Casa S / João Cassiano Santos

Casa S / João Cassiano Santos - WindowsCasa S / João Cassiano Santos - Image 3 of 11Casa S / João Cassiano Santos - Windows, FacadeCasa S / João Cassiano Santos - Windows, FacadeCasa S / João Cassiano Santos - More Images+ 6

Aldeia Nova de São Bento, Portugal
  • Architects: João Cassiano Santos: Paulo Rodrigues e José Andrade
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  384
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2010
  • Photographs
    Photographs: Miguel Coelho

Text description provided by the architects. The surrounding atmosphere is not the gentle countryside, but the bush, dense of rockroses and sparse cork trees. The white house on top of the hill is an opposition to such harsh atmosphere, on a dominating attitude, just like the traditional archetypal “monte alentejano”.

Casa S / João Cassiano Santos - Windows
©  Miguel Coelho

The living room exposes North and South glass transparency hidden in the shadow, sheltered East and West by two volumes, opaque white buttresses that enclose the kitchen to the sunrise and rooms to the sunset.

Casa S / João Cassiano Santos - Image 3 of 11
©  Miguel Coelho

To synthetically define the action on this territory, and the concept of the project, we would speak of the “void” between the two massive wings (East, West), the living room on central axis, a comfortable square space with two opposed fireplaces, where the landscape comes in, framed by the white walls.

Casa S / João Cassiano Santos - Windows, Facade
©  Miguel Coelho

The room’s wing is the dominating prism opposed to the aridity of the ground and the vastness of the landscape. On the first floor, only one room, the absolute refuge inside the shelter is the bedroom with a view over Spanish hills. The H shape plan reflects day and night uses, with the square living as “go between”.

floor plan

The whole composition is based on the dialectics of pairs; two buttressed wings, two chimneys, two patios (North and South), two windows.

The volume white massive expression is hardened by the window openings, used recessed or outwards projected off, to guarantee throughout the day, evolving black shadows on white surfaces, the metaphor of the Mediterranean.

Project gallery

See allShow less
About this office
Cite: "Casa S / João Cassiano Santos" 01 Feb 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/107586/casa-s-joao-cassiano-santos> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.