Situated a short distance from the centre of Fátima, but already in a landscape with a distinctly rural character, the Casa na Lameira single-family house is an example of conscious and sensitive architecture that grows out of respect for the natural surroundings and the conditions of a particular place. From the outset, the design aimed to fit the building harmoniously into the local context, both landscape and cultural, while using local materials and artisanal construction techniques.
The investors are young parents of two children, one of whose spouses, trained as an architect, was actively involved in the design process. The house concept was inspired by the Lemkehaus by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The modernist villa became a reference point for spatial and aesthetic solutions. The design by João Pedro Pedrosa – Arquitectos responds to the specific daily needs of the residents. Access to natural light, seamless transitions between the interior and garden while maintaining privacy, flexibility of space and the use of natural, local raw materials were key considerations.
In terms of the flexibility of the space, particular attention was paid to the children’s rooms. They were to serve a dual function as places for learning and relaxation, and also as part of the communal living space. This was realised with large sliding panels that allow one of the room’s walls to be opened up almost completely and connect it to the corridor leading to the garden, lit by a wide window. One of the most distinctive elements of the house is its materiality. In an age of widespread use of industrial, standardised solutions, here the focus is on local craftsmanship and raw materials.
The facades of the house are clad with hand-formed bricks, the production of which ended with this project. A nearby manufacturer was just coming to the end of its long-standing business, and the homeowner himself and his son joined in making the last batch of bricks. Each brick is unique in texture, colour and shape, giving the façade a lively, varied character. The east façade also conceals a small but significant detail. “Bee Brick” is a special brick designed as a refuge for wild bees, made from recycled materials. This element symbolically links the architecture to the concern for local biodiversity.
It is not only the brick that builds the identity of the house. The brickwork surrounding the plot was created from stones retrieved from the ruins of nearby centuries-old walls that were due to be demolished. The owner, together with craftsmen, selected and transported the stone himself. The window frames and exterior natural wood ceilings were also handmade by local craftsmen, and the stone used in the interiors comes from local quarries. The handmade techniques and natural textures give the whole a distinctly sensual, almost tactile character.
The body of the building has a simple ‘L’ form, from which the covered outdoor spaces have been ‘hollowed out’. The house is set on a flat terrace, at the highest point of the plot, close to the access road to the east. This positioning increases privacy at the entrance, where the elevation is more enclosed and perforated with small openings. In contrast, the west elevation opens up with large glazing to the garden, providing a sense of continuity between the interior and nature and controlled daylight. The interior of the house is divided into two parts, separated by a vestibule: the communal wing, with living room, kitchen, dining room, office and laundry room and covered terraces, and the private wing with bedrooms and bathrooms. In addition, an underground storey with technical and storage rooms is accessible from the outside.
Casa na Lameira in Fátima is a project that restores the importance of locality in architecture. It shows that a contemporary house does not have to be built from catalogue solutions, but can be created with sensitivity, involving the hands of the inhabitants and in harmony with the landscape.
Project name: Casa na Lameira
Designer: João Pedro Pedrosa – Arquitectos
Location: Fátima, Portugal
Area: 345 sq m.
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio
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