corpo atelier stacks five terraces and a garden on lush golf course

situated on a golf course in vilamoura on the southern coast of portugal, local practice corpo atelier completes the house aptly titled ‘five terraces and a garden’. the particular landscape features expanses of open space with view obstructions lending to the function of a golf course, with scattered single family residences forming an informal perimeter around the holes. at ground level, a vibrantly green landscape dotted with generally low shrubs and trees is only challenged by the view from upper levels revealing the ocean to the south and the mountains to the north. 

image © ricardo oliveira alves (also first image)

as the name implies, corpo atelier took these two visual queues to create a home composed of five stacked and cantilevered terraces that respond simultaneously to the desired exterior views and interior privacy from neighboring homes and golfers. each stark white block features an opaque outer wall that conceals the opening inside, forming voids for balconies and planters, allowing light and ventilation to the interior while blocking views from ground level. each level provides a different landscape of views as one gradually escalated to the top level, meanwhile terraces housing plants are elevated along the structure providing pockets of greenery throughout the house. the interior continues the white palette typical of the area- reflective tiled floors help reflect light to all rooms and stay cooler in the summer days making the interior a pleasant environment. 

each terrace provides privacy and nooks for gardens and balconies
image © ricardo oliveira alves

‘the terrace was the prodigy of the house, in it the wind passed. I had started to discover the body and had the light for confident.’ – eugenio de andrade; white in white against obscurity

image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

front elevation is comprised of various terraces and gardens
image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

the home opens to the north where there’s more privacy, looking out over the mountains
image © ricardo oliveira alves

a central hall connects the front entrance to the private backyard and forms an effective wind tunnel for cooling the interior
image © ricardo oliveira alves

windows located throughout the space correspond to the various terraces
image © ricardo oliveira alves

the kitchen on the upper level enjoys the best views
image © ricardo oliveira alves

the white interior maintains a light and airy home
image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

image © ricardo oliveira alves

the scale from the main street maintains the height establishe don the street
image © ricardo oliveira alves

1/3

 

 

 

project info:

project: five terraces and a garden
office: corpo atelier
team: filipe paixão, rui martins
architect: filipe paixão
location: vilamoura . portugal
date: 2015
photography: ricardo oliveira alves
constructor: window to the future
developer: vertigem sa

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save