This Portuguese Beach Retreat Blends Seamlessly With Nature
Contemporary yet understated, this beach house in Portugal appears to hover over the landscape with its platform construction. Its earthen façade and sculptural concrete base create a poetic balance between permanence and lightness, while interiors embrace the surrounding nature.
“Free from daily obligations, a holiday house allows a certain level of freedom and experimentation – it should be generous, informal and physically present, imposing its own time and pace,” says João Caldeira Ferrão of Lisbon architecture practice Extrastudio.
The home was designed for a couple of German creatives and their two young children. Located in Lourinhã, a fruit-growing region an hour north of Lisbon, the site was chosen spontaneously when the clients discovered a small plot by the sea and purchased it on impulse.
Set near a village and only a five-minute walk from the beach and two of Portugal’s top surfing spots, Ericeira and Peniche, the location suits the clients’ wish for a relaxed and generous retreat closely connected to nature.
“Lourinhã has never been a wealthy area; buildings are modest and simple, and sit naturally in the landscape in a way that has somehow been forgotten by buildings from recent decades,” adds Caldeira Ferrão.
The house reflects the modesty and simplicity of the region while offering a modern retreat aligned with its rural surroundings.
Author’s summary: This Portuguese beach house exemplifies how modern design can harmonize with nature, creating an informal yet timeless retreat inspired by the simplicity of its setting.