set in rural portugal, this single-volume house is shaped around a central patio

the melides house by fragmentos privileges tranquility and nature in the grândola village

a short distance from the atlantic ocean, silence prevails in the rural village of grândola, portugal, characterized by an extensive pine forest and a few small, scattered buildings. there, the melides residence by fragmentos emerges as a single volume with a flat roof hollowed out at one spot to form a central patio and around which the house develops. zooming out, the transition between the construction and the landscape appears harmonious, privileging tranquillity and nature in this portuguese town. 

all images © lourenço teixeira de abreu

organizing the program from the central patio, outwards

inside melides, fragmentos (see more here) organized the program starting from where the owners can access the central patio, providing a visual relationship between the different parts of the house. the eastern wing holds the social areas, elevated by large glass panels overlooking the terrace and swimming pool. meanwhile, the central and western wings host five suites that strongly connect to the surrounding area.

a domestic space informed by sun exposure and vistas 

as a final touch, the roof projects forward at different lengths according to the solar orientation, extending the interiors to create outdoor spaces covered by pergolas. additionally, pathways formed of wooden beams lead to the swimming pool which, designed over a natural amphitheater, takes advantage of sun exposure and invites a meditative reflection on the melides house’s close link to the quiet landscape.

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project info:

name: melides

location: grândola, portugal
project area: 325 sqm
project date: 2017 – 2021

architecture: fragmentos | @fragmentos.pt

fragmentos team: pedro silva lopes, fernando flora, rita sousa, madalena wemans
specialists: joão paulo branco (fragmentos), espaço civil
supervision: dione mateus
construction: fernando pedreiro
site surveying: coopas
landscape architecture: polen land design, terra lógica
photography: lourenço teixeira de abreu