Ecological House | Utopia - Arquitectura e Engenharia Lda

On a picturesque slope overlooking a verdant valley in Portugal, our team of architects was tasked with crafting a contemporary, eco-friendly residence, imbued with the opulence typically associated with luxury homes. Nestled into the terrain, this sustainable abode shields itself from the street with strategic placement of walls and a discreet garage, while effortlessly extending its embrace towards the valley below, where the bedrooms and living spaces are perched. A secluded patio serves as a sanctuary for intimate activities, such as culinary endeavors, with a seamless flow to the upper garden. Characterized by its modern architectural design and crowned with a lush green roof, this environmentally-conscious dwelling emerges from the earth, harmonizing with the surrounding landscape as it gazes out over the valley panorama.

For the design of a modern residence, our client initially sought a single-story layout. However, the steep incline of the terrain and the elevated roadway necessitated a unique approach. Our solution involved situating the garage at street level, adjacent to an access ramp leading to the roof. This configuration not only ensures privacy within the interior courtyard but also elegantly integrates the structure into its surroundings. Capitalizing on the breathtaking valley vista, we positioned the bedrooms and dining area to overlook this natural tableau, while the kitchen finds its place adjacent to the patio, fostering a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Encased in a verdant blanket of vegetation, the house appears to hover amidst the canopy of trees, its design embodying a symbiotic relationship with the landscape while enhancing the thermal efficiency of the dwelling.