OURÉM RESIDENCE

Overlooking the Castle of Ourém, this modern, geometric residence is designed by Portuguese architect Filipe Saraiva as his own family home. It is inspired by the classic image of a house as drawn by a child.

Saraiva has stretched this classic shape across the main volume, finished with a wooden pergola area at the front of the property. The exterior is encased in black concrete, a “smooth integration in harmony with the landscape.” The interiors are characterized by white painted walls, punctuated by a dark wood kitchen island and a curated assortment of black furnishings. An open plan layout, with a double height kitchen and dining area overlooked by an upstairs office, create versatility in the home as a base for work and play. About this multipurpose approach to the architecture of his home, Saraiva explains: “The project consists of a house of me, for me and my family and intends to meet our functional needs, but also to satisfy a range of architectural requirements that are part of my formal and spatial imaginary, resulting from my individual and family experience.”