A striking new residential project in Portugal demonstrates how contemporary architecture can harmoniously blend with rural landscapes while embracing radical simplicity. The Plaj House, designed by Extrastudio and completed in 2025, sits on a steep, narrow strip of land in Lourinhã, approximately one hour north of Lisbon, offering panoramic views over the sea, valley, and distant village.
The project began when clients discovered the small seaside plot during a trip through Portugal. Located in Lourinhã, an area renowned as the country's center for fruit production and its proximity to world-class surfing destinations Ericeira and Peniche, the site presented both opportunities and challenges. The 120-square-meter house sits just a five-minute walk from the beach, positioned to take full advantage of the dramatic coastal setting.
Lead architects João Caldeira Ferrão and João Costa Ribeiro, working with design team members Sónia Oliveira, Rita Rodrigues, and Filipa Almeida, approached the project with a philosophy rooted in regional building traditions. They observed that Lourinhã has never been a wealthy area, where buildings are characteristically modest and simple, sitting naturally in the landscape in a way that recent decades of construction had seemingly forgotten.
The architectural solution centers on the relationship with topography, with the house touching the ground as lightly as possible to allow existing terrain to flow beneath. Four load-bearing walls support a cruciform podium upon which the house sits, hovering over the land. The platform touches the sloping ground only once to allow entry, while all other sides accommodate floating terraces that extend in all directions, giving each room its own private outdoor refuge.
A distinctive void cut from the solid form creates an open-air courtyard entrance, enclosed by a large sliding gate. The single-level organization places kitchen, dining, and living areas in a generous shared space that opens symmetrically to north, east, and west, while three bedrooms face south. Despite being restricted to a maximum enclosed area of 120 square meters, the interior compensates for the small footprint by taking full advantage of the volume's height, creating an unexpected sense of grandeur and scale.
Innovative lighting design plays a crucial role in the home's atmosphere. A large skylight reinforces the impression of spaciousness in the living room, while a precisely designed series of oculi, calculated using 3D modeling within the structure's geometry, allows direct light from the skylight to penetrate throughout the house, reaching its darkest areas. For four months each year, a beam of light illuminates each room before sunset, reaching peak intensity during the summer and winter solstices.
Flexibility and informality guide the home's functional design through simple architectural devices. Windows recede completely into walls, transforming the house into a large alfresco space and extending indoor living outdoors. This design allows activities like bathing to become open-air experiences, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces.
The construction process itself became part of the design evolution through close dialogue between clients and builders. Workers' knowledge and the element of chance left their marks on the house during construction. Grey plastered walls were left bare to create a monochrome interior, while new portholes and niches were added where possible. A steel door in the stairwell was replaced with red glass, and Iranian silver travertine and bluish-green marble were selected to complement the interior walls. The exterior, originally intended to be grey, ultimately gained color through this collaborative process.
Landscape integration remained minimal and respectful of the existing environment. A long swimming pool stands among wild pine trees, positioned parallel to the sea. All existing trees were preserved, and a grid of fruit trees was planted on the slopes to maintain the agricultural character of the surroundings, honoring the region's heritage as a fruit-growing center.
The completed project offers a serene retreat where the only sounds are waves breaking on the shore and voices from across the valley. At night, unknown bird species warble while croaking frogs from a nearby creek provide natural accompaniment, creating an immersive experience that connects residents with the Portuguese countryside's authentic rhythms and sounds.
