House on Diagonals Reflecting the Gentle Hills Stretching Around

Описание: In the picturesque town of Celorico de Basto, located just an hour's drive from Porto, you will find the magnificent Cork Oak House (Casa dos Sobreiros). This charming name refers to the numerous cork oak trees present on the property, which covers approximately 12,000 square meters in a protected area. Due to the importance of these trees in the region, the house was carefully designed to minimize its impact on the surroundings and preserve all existing plants.

The design of this residence was conceived with a clear goal: to establish a strong connection with nature, seamlessly integrating it into the interior space. The choice of construction materials was made with precision, combining concrete, pine wood, and glass. The exposed concrete facades, molded with pine wood boards, provide a modernist aesthetic of cubist simplicity that also reflects the gentle hills stretching before the house.

With its clean lines and precise forms, Cork Oak House fits perfectly into the landscape, featuring two concrete blocks at right angles, one housing the common areas and the other the private spaces. An intersection between these blocks creates a periscope-like volume that signals the main entrance, while its tapered ends visually anchor the construction to the surrounding landscape. The L-shaped floor plan delineates a central garden, flanked by a long pool, all enveloped in a concrete structure resembling pine wood boards, blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows create a seamless connection between the indoor space and the natural spectacle outside. The limited palette of materials and colors, including white plaster, black tiles, and dark-veined wood, allows the views of the surrounding nature to take center stage in the open living spaces, such as the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Three spacious suites on the ground floor offer tranquility and privileged views of the central courtyard, while the gym is located on the upper floor.

Carefully chosen furniture and decorative elements complement the architecture of the house with sophistication. Linear lines and graphic patterns on the wooden surfaces add warmth to the predominant white, gray, and black palette, creating a more welcoming and elegant atmosphere.

Project info:

Project name: Casa dos Sobreiros (Cork Oak House)
Location: Celorico de Basto, Portugal
Year of conclusion: 2020
Total area: 330 sqm
Architecture: Hugo Pereira Arquitetos
Main Architect: Hugo Pereira and Diogo Jordão
Architectural photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio

0:00 - Reference to the cork oak trees
1:20 - Entrance of the house at the intersection between the blocks
2:44 - Living room
3:45 - The pool
4:51 - The L-shaped central courtyard
5:38 - The bedrooms
7:11 - Gym
8:00 - Late afternoon
9:32 - Drawings