An Irregular Dome Shaped Like A Tidal Wave Marks This House In Monsaraz, Portugal

The firm is known for their minimal, geometric architecture that often features angled facades, scooped cut outs, and asymmetrical openings. In ‘House In Monsaraz’, a corner appears to have been sliced away from the home to create a shaded courtyard. Shaped like a tidal wave, the angled dome creates an opening that lights the interior, and accommodates an entrance to the living and dining areas. Each bedroom opens out with views of the scenery in different directions. “Faced with the boundless extents of the Alqueva lake nearby, the house required a center: a protected courtyard embracing the water,” explains the firm. The dome “covers the social areas and is the life center of the house.” The foundation of the residence is set into the ground—from a birds-eye view, only three skylights and a descending staircase are visible through the terrain. As the land slopes downwards, the curving dome becomes more prominent. “Amid a wide natural landscape, the scale of the house is that of the patios and superior dome,” the firm continues. “They are the sole visible elements, painted in radiant white.”