modern farmhouse 'casa namora' takes shape with nested concrete forms

a house in mora, portugal

Portuguese architects Filipe Pina and David Bilo complete this contemporary Casa NaMora in the mountainous agricultural region of Gonçalo — an area commonly known as ‘Mora.’ Perched on a bluff and surrounded by a forested landscape dense with pines, the new structure stands as an extension of a modest, mid-twentieth century farmhouse, which had been well preserved over the years thanks to its continuous use.

With respect for the heritage of the site, the duo resolved to ‘split the old from the new,’ introducing a pair of contemporary concrete volumes alongside the historic building which mirror its traditional profile.

images © Ivo Tavares Studio | @ivotavaresstudio

casa namora: the new ‘flirts’ with the old

The newly completed Casa NaMora takes shape as a pair of nested, concrete volumes — the minimalistic expression respecting the modest spirit of the original house.

Architects Filipe Pina and David Bilo explain the meaningful origin of the project’s title: ‘The name NaMora has a double meaning in Portuguese. It refers to the location of the project, where ‘Na Mora’ would translate into ‘In Mora’ (Mora being the place where the property lies), but ‘namora’ in Portuguese means literally ‘flirt’ or ‘date.’

‘Thus, in a place named Mora, the House NaMora was born, where the concrete volumes forming the new part of the house formally ‘flirt’ with the existing granite body, in total harmony with the existing surroundings.’

inside the modern farmhouse

Filipe Pina and David Bilo organize the programming of their Casa NaMora between the two gabled forms and the existing farmhouse — agricultural spaces dedicated to the farm’s activities are located in the pre-existing stone house, while the living room, bedrooms, suite, and an outdoor patio are fit in the new extension.

The architects comment: ‘Inside, we sought the neutrality given by the simplicity and purity of the materials and by the illusion of the absence of detail. The idea of interiority translates into openings towards landscapes, frames and courtyards strategically located.‘

The team explains its material selection, and the spirit behind the concrete palette: ‘The scale of the intervention and the natural identity of the site were always taken into consideration when choosing the construction approach and materials: stone, concrete, steel and wood.‘

‘Inside, the white and the comfort of the wood balance with the raw and austere presence of the concrete. Outside, stone and concrete are carved in the same way, in a reinterpretation of the vernacular architecture of this region.’