1. Home
  2. /
  3. Villa
  4. /
  5. Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design

The Portugal-based architectural and design studio Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design has designed "Gr Houase" a villa that located in Sever do Vouga, Portugal.

Project description by the architects:

Inserted in a plot of land of irregular geometry and surrounded by constructions of little architectural value, this villa emerges as a consequence of its constraints.

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design in Portugal image © Ivo Tavares studio

If, on the one hand there is a reluctance to visually relate the villa’s interior spaces to its immediate surroundings, on the other hand, there is an uncontrollable desire to turn the villa entirely to face eastwards, towards its view of thunderous beauty and discrete privacy. A further constraint is the fact that its orientation is not ideal, in other words, the view is predominantly facing east, to the south is the far end of the land, and to the west lies a national road with a village coffee shop on the other side of the street...

the entrance step of the house with big wooden slide doorimage © Ivo Tavares studio

the ramp toward the entrance of the villaimage © Ivo Tavares studio

Thus, arose the need for introversion and hermeticism, making the constructed volume emerge as an inert, mimicking nature and assuming its exception in the eastern wing, whose volumetric deformation declares and accentuates its willing openness and submission to the views beyond.

a man walking beside a big cactus plant toward the houseimage © Ivo Tavares studio

the wooden wallimage © Ivo Tavares studio

Its forms are irregular, its colors earthen, the openings on its elevations are almost inexistent, appearing in the form of patios and skylights, visible only from higher up.

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & designimage © Ivo Tavares studio

wooden swing doorimage © Ivo Tavares studio

Walking along the successive ramps encountered since the entrance into this parcel of land, we are taken to a moment of transition between the interior and exterior, which is announced by its coating in roble wood, an exceptional superlative and invitation to enter through the oversized door that separates the hermetic and mysterious exterior from its pure and warm interior, with its spaces generously illuminated with zenithal light pointed towards the valley, where the mist denounces the crossing of a river.

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design in Portugal image © Ivo Tavares studio

A clear outside/indoor duality stresses the idea of the villa’s lack of interest in its relations with the immediate environment, without this hindering the existential dynamics of its interior.
Programmatically, the reception areas of the house face eastwards (valley) and the intimate zones westwards (road), with these spaces being separated by a large indoor patio around which it is possible to walk, creating enriched spatial and visual dynamics.

the balcony with a spectacular view of mountains image © Ivo Tavares studio

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & designimage © Ivo Tavares studio

the kitchen image © Ivo Tavares studio

indoor patioimage © Ivo Tavares studio

indoor patio image © Ivo Tavares studio

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & designimage © Ivo Tavares studio

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & designimage © Ivo Tavares studio

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & designimage © Ivo Tavares studio

bathroomimage © Ivo Tavares studio

bedroomimage © Ivo Tavares studio

dining area image © Ivo Tavares studio

Gr House designed by Paulo Martins Arquitectura & designimage © Ivo Tavares studio

huge wooden swing door is opened image © Ivo Tavares studio

room with white walls image © Ivo Tavares studio

aerial view of the house with drone image © Ivo Tavares studio

Floor Plan Floor Plan

infograficinfografic 

Section Section

Architect: Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design

Collaborators: Bruno Alvarinhas

Location: Sever do Vouga, Portugal

Area: 696 m² 

Year: 2018

Photographer: Ivo Tavares studio

Construction: echa Coutinho Construções


By Naser Nader Ibrahim

Share on: