A Gorgeous Tiered House That Becomes One With The Slope

Situated on a sloped piece of land just a few kilometers away from the center of Braga, in Portugal, this is a very special house. It was designed and built here by the studio AZO. Sequeira Arquitectos Associados and the project was completed in 2018.

The green roof doesn't actually extend beyond the footprint of the house
The green roof doesn’t actually extend beyond the footprint of the house

The design of the house is closely linked to the unique particularities of the site. To be more exact, the architects aimed to integrate the house into the landscape and the way to do that was to place it on the middle level of the site. This made it possible for top section of the land to seamlessly come down and to transition into a green roof, looking as if the land gradually transforms into the house itself. At the same time the house gets to expand down the slope and to take advantage of the panoramic views over the valley and the whole surrounding area.

Light, both natural and artificial, plays a very important role in the design of this house
Light, both natural and artificial, plays a very important role in the design of this house
Large windows frame close views of the sloping terrain, allowing the land to become a part of the interior design
Large windows frame close views of the sloping terrain, allowing the land to become a part of the interior design

Special consideration was also given to the degree of solar exposure when designing the house and choosing the best orientation for it. Of course, the views played an important role as well, being a major component in both the exterior and interior design of this place. As far as the palette of materials, finishes and colors are concerned, this project focuses a lot on the natural and organic aspects of the design. As such, it was important for the house to have a modern design and to look like a solid structure with a clean geometry but it was also necessary for it to be seamlessly integrated into the landscape which is where elements such as the green roof come into play. For the interior, a combination of concrete, wood and stone gives the spaces the modern vibe that was desired plus they blend in with each other in a seamless and organic manner.

The lower section of the house extends down the slope and looks onto a big open terrace with a built-in swimming pool
The lower section of the house extends down the slope and looks onto a big open terrace with a built-in swimming pool
The dividing walls that frame the windows extend outwards and connect with the top of the slope
The dividing walls that frame the windows extend outwards and connect with the top of the slope
A view from above reveals the way in which the house and the slope and connected to each other
A view from above reveals the way in which the house and the slope and connected to each other
The sections of the house that are not integrated with the land reveal a minimalistic, light gray exterior
The sections of the house that are not integrated with the land reveal a minimalistic, light gray exterior
The house was built on the middle level of the site, taking advantage of the topography in a really cool way
The house was built on the middle level of the site, taking advantage of the topography in a really cool way
The solid exterior walls which extend around the house create a series of sheltered outdoor areas
The solid exterior walls which extend around the house create a series of sheltered outdoor areas
The site is fairly isolated from the rest of the neighboring structures which gives the house lots of privacy
The site is fairly isolated from the rest of the neighboring structures which gives the house lots of privacy
Large windows allow the sloping terrain to create a beautiful green backdrop for the living areas
Large windows allow the sloping terrain to create a beautiful green backdrop for the living areas
The kitchen is exposed to the exterior and takes full advantage of the natural light and the lovely view
The kitchen is exposed to the exterior and takes full advantage of the natural light and the lovely view
A combination of exposed concrete, wood and stone was used for the interior surfaces of the house
A combination of exposed concrete, wood and stone was used for the interior surfaces of the house
The expansive deck that wraps around the house adds more functional spaces and allow the living areas to feel larger and more open
The expansive deck that wraps around the house adds more functional spaces and allow the living areas to feel larger and more open
Both floors of the house enjoy a close connection with the outdoors, each in their own way
Both floors of the house enjoy a close connection with the outdoors, each in their own way