When artist Chris Saunders left Venice, California, and headed to Portugal for a two-week surf trip in 2020, he didn’t know he was going home. “Covid exploded overnight, and I was stuck here for about six months,” he says. It turns out, Chris was right where he belongs.

He spent his six-month quarantine in Ericeira, a famous surf town about 45 minutes from Lisbon. Exploring the area around Sintra on his motorcycle, Chris discovered a region dotted with historic castles and palaces that tower on forested, mountainous terrain bordered by the Atlantic. “It’s like stepping into a fairy tale,” he says. “I fell in love.”

Chris was so enamored, he decided he’d stay. He searched for property and discovered an idyllic hilltop lot in north Sintra for sale on Facebook Marketplace that “looked too good to be true.” He drove to see the land and was instantly captivated by its panoramic views of surrounding verdant valleys, vineyards, and ocean. “I immediately made an offer,” he recalls.

He purchased the land and created plans for a stick-built home, submitting them to Sintra’s planning council for approval. After waiting a year and a half with no response, Chris considered a different option. “I began researching alternative ways of living and explored prefabs and tiny-home companies here in Europe. I saw an opportunity to live on my beautiful land much more quickly and for much cheaper,” he says. Then, a friend showed him the Instagram profile of Madeiguincho—the Cascais architecture and woodworking studio led by Gonçalo Marrote, known for creating sculptural, wood-wrapped tiny homes on wheels.

Chris visited Madeiguincho’s studio within the next few days. “I was blown away by their craftsmanship—their designs looked like works of art, each one unique, welcoming, and warm,” he says. The artist was so taken with the firm’s work that he hired the studio to create a tiny house that would tie in with his extraordinary property. “I connected deeply with the land and felt a magical energy that I’d never felt before,” Chris says. “I envisioned living off-grid with the most minimal footprint, listening to the land.”

“For now, I’m content living this way and only want to build on what I’m learning from being here.”
—Chris Saunders, resident

Marrote and his team responded by designing a 200-square-foot house clad with European pine and Japanese cedar. Named Vigia—Portuguese for “lookout”—the tiny home is punctuated by a massive arched window surrounded by polycarbonate. “We believe an outdoor connection is important for healthy living,” Marrote says. “The air, sun, moon, stars, soil, water—what is healthier and more important than nature?”

Despite its size, Vigia provides what Chris needs to live and make art. “My tiny house feels like a nest on top of a tree,” he says. “Most days, I could just stay home and work, but I force myself to leave.” He has surf spots nearby and likes to hike and do yoga outside. “I instantly felt at home here,” he says. “The house has everything I need.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Madeiguincho

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