Fonte do Corcho
Farmhouse
1. IDEA
Located on a 1.8 ha property in Alentejo this small house is adjacent to a pond and a meadow. Cork oak (Quercus Suber L.) and pine trees make up the higher parts of the property to envelope it and create privacy. Olive trees occupy the lower part of the property and the meadow.
The concept for this ‘taipa’ house was to rehabilitate it keeping the existing footprint and to connect it to exterior spaces and landscape.
2. PROCESS
The 70 m2 house was built of the traditional ‘taipa’ construction method consisting of thick adobe-like walls made of wet earth compacted in formwork. With a white plaster finish, which allows the walls to breathe, this small house is made grand with its light colored finishes and by expanding into the exterior with an outdoor kitchen, outdoor shower and outdoor living areas, such as the patio, which is a continuation of the living and dining rooms. The focus of the rehabilitation was on improving thermal performance, by insulating the roof, and on adding fenestration to create a brighter and warmer light environment.
3. SOLUTION
This is a sunset house. In the afternoon the warmth of the light here is breathtaking. And it seems to linger and linger, well after the sun goes down, casting a layer of golden light on the landscape.
Simple decoration including local ceramics and other objects, helps to keep the focus on the exterior natural elements, such as the majestic cork oak and olive trees, as well as the meadow.
By restoring the original quality and materiality we restored its character and preserved its stories told through timeless echoes.
