Carlos Castanheira & Clara Bastai firm have designed a contemporary house design in Ribeira de Abade, Portugal. The house sits beautifully looking the Douro river, its bridges, and the sea view. The house external material are made of concrete, granite, slate, zinc, and glass, while on the inside are using American oak timber and glass.
Walls parallel to the slope and perpendicular to it, helping each other and in between those walls, spaces were created, spaces for life, spaces for light which enables life. The programme, which was very hierarchichal, suggested different contents, different kinds of experience. On the ground floor is the social area, subdivided to be enjoyed by the family, relations, friends and visitors. On the upper floor, there are three bedrooms cantilevered, with a privileged enjoyment of the landscape beyond. In between these, are the two guest rooms.
Volumetrically there is almost only the cantilevered body of the bedrooms. Sitting on a stone clad wall, its overhang shades from the direction of the penetrating setting sun, always wonderful, always different.
