Monte Novo
House
1. IDEA
Located on a 2.5 ha farm in Alentejo this house is adjacent to an old, magestic cork tree.
The house dates back to the 1950’s and it’s dark with small openings. The intent is to add light and to create a house that ‘branches’ out to the exterior from all directions to embrace the different views and moments in each distinct area while also creating private outdoor areas.
2. PROCESS
The central part of the house was constructed using the traditional ‘taipa’ construction method consisting of adobe-like walls made of wet earth compacted into formwork, with a plaster finish which allows the taipa walls to breathe. WIth an existing shell and roof, this 180 m2 house will be made brighter and more open by adding and enlarging openings for natural light, which will allow the inetrior to connect to the exterior and its various outdoor living areas. Outdoor spaces are a natural extension of houses in this region.
The exterior areas are being renaturalized with perennial, endemic and adapted species.
3. SOLUTION
In order to create privacy for a large house able to sleep 10, the proposal will be to open the house in multiple directions so each space can have a ‘pressure relief valve’.
The living is easy in the Alentejo region and the climate is arid and mild, with nearly 3000 hours of sunshine during an average year.
In this quiet corner, often the only thing that can be heard is the sounds of nature.
Peaceful and relaxing inside and out.