House in Crato

Casa no Crato was designed for a couple seeking a peaceful retreat in nature. Located in Alto Alentejo on a 70-hectare property dotted with oaks, cork trees, and a small lagoon, the architectural design takes the natural surroundings as its primary starting point.

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Set atop a hill, the house features a cross-shaped plan directly derived from the site: the structure was carefully molded around existing trees to ensure none were felled. This unique layout allows each of its four arms to be entirely surrounded by the landscape, bringing the outdoors into every space and creating the illusion of a much smaller scale.

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From the central entrance vestibule at the intersection of the axes, the house branches into distinct areas. The social volume houses the living and dining rooms, which open generously to the landscape, ending in a more intimate office. In a perpendicular volume at a lower level, the kitchen connects seamlessly to the pool and an aromatic garden. On the opposite side, at a higher elevation, lies the private wing. Reached via a corridor with vertical slits for natural light, the bedrooms enjoy independent views and total privacy.

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Throughout the project, porches act as transition spaces, providing shaded outdoor living areas. These can be concealed by perforated corten steel shutters—a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional Arabic "muxarabi"—which allow for constant cross-ventilation and passive temperature control inside the house.