Beautiful Stone House With A Simple Aesthetic And A Lovely Connection To The Land

This lovely house is a quaint little retreat is Braga, Portugal, It occupies a secluded site with a very noticeable slope and it takes advantage of its location while also managing to blend in with the natural surroundings. The house was designed and built by studio AZO.Sequeira Arquitectos Associados in 2018 and is structured on two floors, with a total surface area of 423 square meters. It sits at the highest point of the sloping site in order to frame the best views and also to take maximum advantage of the solar exposure. The exterior is muted and simple. The light gray envelope goes well with the simple form and the overall geometry of the building. The house opens up towards the back where patio furniture placed along the glazed facade extends the living areas outside. The patio seamlessly transitions into an infinity-edge pool.

The simple gray exterior gives the house a modern look and allows it to blend into the surroundings
The simple gray exterior gives the house a modern look and allows it to blend into the surroundings
A large infinite edge swimming pool occupies a big section of the backyard
A large infinite edge swimming pool occupies a big section of the backyard

On the inside, the house is very welcoming but in a simple way. Materials such as exposed concrete and natural stone used for the walls, floors and ceilings create a simple and cold aesthetic. They’re complemented by natural wood which is integrated into the spaces in a variety of different forms. It adds warmth and color to the rooms without being overly bold or disrupting the simple and relaxed aesthetic of the house. Large windows and various connections to open outdoor spaces create a natural and harmonious relationship between the house and the landscape surrounding it. The distribution of the spaces and the design of the house as a whole have been largely influenced by the solar orientation and the views which can be enjoyed from various areas on each floor.

The oversized floor of the upper level creates overhangs for some of the ground floor spaces
The oversized floor of the upper level creates overhangs for some of the ground floor spaces
Custom wooden furniture helps to make the living areas welcoming and relaxing
Custom wooden furniture helps to make the living areas welcoming and relaxing
The house has a solid base which adapts to the uneven topography of the site
The house has a solid base which adapts to the uneven topography of the site
The building embraces the slope and enjoys a harmonious connection to its immediate surroundings
The building embraces the slope and enjoys a harmonious connection to its immediate surroundings
The backyard patio seamlessly transitions into an infinity edge pool
The backyard patio seamlessly transitions into an infinity edge pool
The entire rear facade of the ground floor is glazed and exposed to the backyard and the beautiful surroundings
The entire rear facade of the ground floor is glazed and exposed to the backyard and the beautiful surroundings
The elongated floor plan creates a warm and cozy ambiance in the main living area
The elongated floor plan creates a warm and cozy ambiance in the main living area
Modern abstract art is displayed on the walls, adding color and dynamism to the decor
Modern abstract art is displayed on the walls, adding color and dynamism to the decor
Natural stone and wood in combination with the garden view give the master bathroom a spa-inspired look
Natural stone and wood in combination with the garden view give the master bathroom a spa-inspired look
The entrance is reached via a set of stone stairs that go up the slope on the side of the house
The entrance is reached via a set of stone stairs that go up the slope on the side of the house
The distribution of the spaces within the house takes into account both the solar exposure and the views which can be enjoyed from each section
The distribution of the spaces within the house takes into account both the solar exposure and the views which can be enjoyed from each section

Pictures from Nelson Garrido