spaceworkers stretches sambade house across portuguese landscape

spaceworkers stretches sambade house across portuguese landscape
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG
all images courtesy of spaceworkers

through the design of ‘sambade house’, architecture office spaceworkers sought to create a contemporary living space that embraced the tranquil and serene qualities inherent to the client’s site. located in the countryside near penafiel, portugal, the residence takes the form of an elongated concrete bar, which opens fully on its downhill facing elevation to take advantage of expansive views of the distant landscape.

from the upper level, glass walls and a long patio allow for views of the landscape on the house’s downhill side
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

the two-storey residence elevates and cantilevers an upper volume upon a ground level mass, which is sunken into the terracing landscape. the downhill elevation is lined with glass curtain walls, which open onto a long outdoor patio. on the back side, a rusted steel surface gently ramps to access the dwelling’s main entry and central courtyard. additionally, on one of the house’s side elevations, the dining area opens onto an outdoor patio and swimming pool.

the upper volume cantilevers from a lower level base mass
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

the building’s material treatment complements the formal purity, with consistent board-formed concrete exteriors with accents of rusted steel. interior finishes are composed of large panels of glass, wood flooring, and stark white walls and ceilings.

a rusted steel ramp gently rises to reach the house’s main entry
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

a void in the concrete volume’s roof creates a bright central courtyard
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

glass doors slide away on two sides to connect the dining room to the surrounding outdoor patio
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

a wood patio and swimming pool extend from the house’s side
photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

photo © fernando guerra | FG+SG

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project info:

location: penafiel, portugal
dates: 2011 – 2014
size: 1,177 sqm
client: private

spaceworkers team
principal architects: henrique marques, rui dinis
architects: rui rodrigues, sérgio rocha, rui miguel, vasco giesta, pedro silva
finance director: carla duarte – CFO
engineer: lino correia engenharia
photography: fernando guerra | FG+SG