Small House in Portugal Makes The Most Of A Square-Shaped Plot

This lovely modern house from Comporta, Portugal occupies a fairly small piece of land which has an unusually square shape. This directly impacted the way in which the area has divided into indoor and outdoor spaces as well as the overall design of the house itself. 

The house is quite small with only 180 square meters of living space inside
The house is quite small with only 180 square meters of living space inside

The project was completed in 2019 by studio GSS Arquitectos. They gave the house a simple and low-profile look with a big flat roof and a concrete shell. The roof forms an overhang towards the garden, creating this really nice transitional area between the indoor living spaces and the open outdoor areas.

All the interior spaces are organized on a single floor which opens onto the backyard
All the interior spaces are organized on a single floor which opens onto the backyard
A sliding wall allows the living area to become connected to the patio and to have easy access into the garden
A sliding wall allows the living area to become connected to the patio and to have easy access into the garden

The site has a gentle slope and is bordered by a beautiful pine forest. The tall trees rise behind the house and create a nice backdrop which helps its modern architecture stand out even more. There’s plenty of vegetation out in the garden surrounding the pool and the patios which helps to add a calm and serene vibe to this whole area. 

The social areas are arranged in a linear plan along this side of the house
The social areas are arranged in a linear plan along this side of the house

The interior of the house is also quite simple, featuring concrete floors and ceilings and white walls throughout. The interior spaces have easy access to the outdoor shower, pool and the various exposed areas around the house. 

The concrete floors and ceilings add uniformity to the interior areas
The concrete floors and ceilings add uniformity to the interior areas
The day areas are separated from the bedrooms by a small hallway
The day areas are separated from the bedrooms by a small hallway
This bedroom has its own little courtyard which brings plenty of sunlight in
This bedroom has its own little courtyard which brings plenty of sunlight in
A big skylight fills the bathroom with natural light and gives it a very airy look
A big skylight fills the bathroom with natural light and gives it a very airy look
The flat concrete roof allows the house to keep a low profile and to emphasis on the beautiful landscape around it
The flat concrete roof allows the house to keep a low profile and to emphasis on the beautiful landscape around it
Off to the side there's a pathway leading to an outdoor shower area
Off to the side there’s a pathway leading to an outdoor shower area