House within a Few Lines

The geometry of a narrow house is settled within a few lines, working both in plan and in section. The Portuguese design team intersected curved walls with a sinuous ceiling, giving a space that never feels static; in the evening its folds create a strange play of light and shadow.

The living room opens to the back garden between two surfaces: a turquoise carpet of ceramic tiles below and a light green tent of ceiling above, all under a slender metal roof.

The street front stays modest, a closed wall with a blue door and a small window. The back is an overlay of elements in a whimsical garden: a large opening, a concrete beam, a freestanding blue column and a bright yellow shutter. Mirrors hide chimneys and make the roof look paper thin, and bold black marble stripes frame both façades.