West Cliffs
Description
On a plot of land that slopes down to the west, the house rests on a garden, in an open relationship with nature, marked by breathtaking sea views.
The building takes the east side of the plot, which made it possible to take advantage of the slope to design not only the access from the street but also the functional access to the garage, freeing up the garden area to the west, with its sun exposure and privileged views.
The house develops as a robust volume, to which voids have been subtracted to create interior patios, sheltered from the winds. The main entrance is on the first floor, through an area protected from the weather. On this floor are the social areas of the house and the terrace for enjoying the pool, with views of the ocean, which extends over the underground floor, used for technical areas, storage rooms and parking. On the second floor are the bedrooms, mostly facing west, which open up to the outside through large glass windows under a large shaded opening.
The roof of the house is a terrace, accessible from the exterior spiral staircase, where the solar panels are concealed, contributing to the production of green energy, incorporated into the technical systems. The aim is for the building to be highly performative in thermal terms, in a response to adapting to the climate and to a sustainable positioning that promotes a reduction in its environmental impact. In addition to the concerns about integrating the building into the development in which it is located, the design of the interior of the plot followed the principles of sustainable landscape intervention, based on the botanical universe of native flora, especially the Pinus Pinea and Cisto Lavanduletali patches, in a space that is as naturalized as possible and does not require irrigation.
Datasheet
Óbidos, Portugal
670 sqm
ARX Portugal, Arquitectos lda.
Nuno Mateus
José Mateus
Photography
Ivo Tavares
