Experimental

On the outskirts of Leiria, in a transitional zone between dispersed urban fabric and forested areas, a new single-family house is set within the landscape — born from a family's relocation from Lisbon to the centre of Portugal. This shift in context prompted an architectural approach that, while establishing a clear contrast with the surrounding built environment, simultaneously seeks a symbiotic relationship with the local natural setting.

The house is organised around a central courtyard, forming an orthogonal grid that enables clear and efficient functional zoning. A porch on the main façade mediates the transition between the public exterior and the domestic interior, acting as both a welcoming space and a thermal buffer. The spatial distribution follows canonical principles: social areas to the south, private zones to the north, and auxiliary programmes strategically placed at the corners of the built perimeter. Each corner accommodates a complementary use — laundry, storage, technical spaces, or small work areas — thereby freeing the main body of the house for permanent and social functions. To the south, an outdoor leisure area and a swimming pool extend domestic life into the open air, making the most of solar exposure.

The reference to the architecture of New Canaan, particularly Eliot Noyes’ forest courtyards, is evident in the way the building is set into the terrain and engages with its surroundings. The central courtyard is clad in a continuous landscaped surface that serves as a retention basin, thermal moderator, and habitat for native biodiversity — enhancing the building’s environmental integration while promoting comfort and efficiency.