On the outskirts of the Portuguese city of Braga, a white villa designed by Arquitetura.501 has been built. The impressive house has an internal green patio and opens up to beautiful views with large windows. This contrasts with the front façade, which is rather restrained and protects the privacy of the residents.
The white villa and its form
The building was constructed on a 980 sq m plot, which opens to the south and east. This is where the most favourable views and the best sunlight conditions are found. The western boundary of the property is clearly limited by the high wall of the neighbouring building, reaching about five metres. The design by Arquitetura.501 took this into account, which is why the white villa takes on a more closed form on the western side, while the eastern and southern façades are as open as possible. This improves thermal comfort, promotes privacy and has a positive effect on the layout of the rooms.
A house with a view in Portugal
The upper level of the building is reserved exclusively for the household members. It houses three bedrooms, connected by a shared balcony running along the entire façade. The glass balustrade does not obstruct the view of the Sameiro massif and allows light to enter freely throughout the day. On the opposite side, there is a small garden, separated from the street by a perforated metal screen. It provides protection from the gaze of passers-by and at the same time filters the light that illuminates the interior.
The white villa and its heart
The ground floor is organised around the central heart of the house. It consists of an entrance hall connected to an internal garden and a double-height void. This is the space where the lives of the household members converge and from where all functions radiate outwards. The garden, illuminated by rays of light entering through an opening in the ceiling, is a vertical accent and a source of gentle, diffused brightness. Three zones are arranged around this core: a guest apartment with a study, a living area with a lounge, dining room and semi-open kitchen, and utility rooms.
Layout of the house
The villa’s utility rooms are located along the western border of the plot. The garage with a driveway from the street, laundry room, dressing room and technical room form a compact barrier that protects the interior from less favourable sunlight. The east and south façades are therefore free for living spaces, which open onto a covered terrace and swimming pool. The white villa is primarily characterised by the simplicity of its form, the openness of the house to greenery and the absence of a fence. The building itself marks the boundaries of the property, and the front of the plot is occupied by a modest garden and a parking space.
Design: Arquitetura.501
House area: 460 sq m
Photos: Ivo TavaresStudio
See also:Single-family house|Interiors|Minimalism|whiteMAD on Instagram |Portugal
