In a Forest in Portugal, a Refined Timber Home Is Hewn From a Traditional Granary

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Project Details:

Location: Arouca, Portugal

Architect: Marta Brandão and MIMA Housing

Year: 2022

Footprint: 1,185 square feet

Builder: Castelo Soberano

Photographer: José Campos / @josecamposphotographer

From the Architects: "Imagine falling asleep to the sound of a rushing river and waking up with the chirping of birds and sights of an opulent green landscape. The architecture could become secondary, had it not been so thoroughly designed.

"Located in Arouca, Portugal, the Granary House was a labor of love and the result of a rare opportunity to realize an absolutely special and unique project. It arose from the combination of two factors: the pre-existence of a granary (a traditional building of the region with slender proportions and high potential for reinterpretation) and the geographical/natural context: a sumptuous green terrain overlooking a river, which is the perfect setting to host and enhance a unique architectural object.

"Drawing inspiration from exceptional houses designed by masters such as Peter Zumthor, Studio Mumbai, Herzog & de Meuron, and Vincent van Duysen, the Granary House aimed to achieve the fundamental characteristics that define the quality of these reference projects: the poetry and coherence of the design on all fronts.

"The process started with the definition of a concept, a language. This was followed by the composition of the palette of materials and colors that would articulate the whole architecture, exterior and interior. Thus, from the design of the house in its exterior envelope and surroundings, to the interiors, the finishings, the choice of furniture, textiles, and the smallest objects, this respect for the pre-established visual lexicon to create a coherent whole became a fundamental premise.

"The house’s strengths are evident. The protagonist is the slate roof, typical of the region, made with the reuse of aged slate extracted from local ruins. Then there’s the slenderness of the volume and the slatted dark wood—a simultaneously minimalist and rustic reinterpretation of the traditional granary—in contrast to the cliff resulting from the cut of the land to the north. The facade cladding in a delicate, darkened wood slat, and above all its subdivision into sliding wooden shutters to the south, transform the facade into a living and changing element. The house can sometimes have the austerity of a monolith, sometimes a changing face of a dynamic nature, enhancing different experiences inside. From the outside, whatever the positioning of the shutters, the composition is balanced and interesting.

"Inside, the house invites you to linger. The abundance of natural wood and its permanent dialogue with the mineral, beige-earth of the micro-cement (reminiscent of the color of the stone in the back) create an atmosphere of warmth and coziness that intensifies when the fireplace is on. Black metal details add a crisp touch of sophistication. The meticulously designed spiral staircase becomes a sculptural element in the living room. On the upper floor, the sloping ceiling of the primary bedroom, with its wooden structure and generous ceiling height, conveys grandeur. Throughout the bedroom runs a narrow balcony that culminates in the outdoor terrace where there are sofas integrated into the structure and a small swimming pool elevated over the fraga.

"The sumptuous green panorama becomes the perfect backdrop for contemplation, while the sun peeks through the wooden slats, generating poetic games of light throughout the house, favoring a permanent dialogue between the outside and the inside. The house punctuates the landscape and generates a new landscape. The result of this symbiosis is the perfect refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life, where you can enjoy nature in full built comfort and pure visual delight."