concrete geometries embrace bruno dias' casa chouso in portugal

Bruno dias encircles nature with concrete apertures & curves

In a humble rural area in Portugal, Bruno Dias Arquitectura has realized ‘Casa Chouso’, a concrete residential project that makes nature part of its architecture. When the architects first visited the site, they were amazed by the great untamed scenery and the fragments of history that go back to old folk traditions. Overflowing with clumps of trees and rocks, the land was primarily used for animal pastures.

When the team found a threshing floor in the area that was also used as a gathering space for farmers and villagers, they immediately came up with the concept of the project. ‘Chouso’ means a fenced or closed area, a hedge grown by shepherds to hold the cattle. Thus, they decided to enclose the house in bold curved geometries generating an intimate living space that creates an almost symbiotic affinity with the natural scenery. A large aperture pierces the single ceiling generating a round atrium that conceptually matches the threshing floor found in the land.

all images by Hugo Santos Silva

unfolding in an L-shaped arrangement

The project’s main purpose was to harness the particularities of the land, introducing an architecture that is in tune with its surroundings without intruding abruptly. Thus, curved edges and a horizontal development soften the architectural intervention on the site and allow the spaces to fully enjoy the enveloping landscapes.

The team at Bruno Dias Arquitectura has organized the design in an L-shape arrangement, dividing the program into two ‘wings’. A large circular opening pierces the concrete roof and outlines a patio that naturally delimits the boundaries between the two programmatic zones. On the east side are the technical areas, such as the barbecue space and garage, while the west zone accommodates the social and private areas, including a study room, bedrooms, living and dining areas, kitchen, and pantry. The interior is completed with natural materials, with the protagonists being stone and wood, exuding modern touches merged with a cozy character. Meanwhile, all the elements used in the finishings were also designed by Bruno Dias Arquitectura.

large circular opening punctures the concrete roof and delimits a patio