Interior Design, Residential Design, ArchitectureFlorence LJuly 20, 2022House NaMora, Interior Design, Portugal

HOUSE NAMORA || A Comfortable Balance of Wood and Concrete Adds to This Modest Portuguese Farm House

Interior Design, Residential Design, ArchitectureFlorence LJuly 20, 2022House NaMora, Interior Design, Portugal

Situated in a natural shelter of a valley at the foot of the Serra da Estrela, close to the parish of Gonçalo, in a place also known locally by the name of Mora, this agricultural property covers 18 hectares and is surrounded by a dense pine tree forest.

The property has been well-preserved thanks to its agricultural activities. A modest granite home built in the mid-twentieth century stands in the middle of the site, and it is here where the new addition to the home began.

*The open kitchen looks out to the new pool.*

To avoid disrupting the farm’s activities, the new home is split from the existing structure. The project's outcome includes a new structure separate from the old home, and an extension was added to the existing home. The design solution considered the homeowner’s brief but also accounted for the land's existing features and morphology, characterized by several terraces.

Two new volumes of concrete were created and implanted in an existing terrace, closely linked to the old granite structure, allowing for natural and fluid development of the local farm.

House NaMora — *Corridor looking out to the green space.*

The name NaMora has a double meaning in Portuguese. It refers to the location of the project, where “Na Mora” would translate into “In Mora” (Mora being the place where the property lies), but “namora” in Portuguese means literally to “flirt” or “date.” Thus, in Mora, the House NaMora was born, where the concrete volumes forming the new part of the house formally "flirt" with the existing granite body, in total harmony with the existing surroundings.

*Thoughtful storage nooks integrated into the staircase.*

The project was divided into two distinct yet complementary elements: the storage, technical area, functional sanitary installations and kitchen are located in the pre-existing home and fully dedicated to the farm’s activities, whereas the living room, bedrooms, suite and outdoor leisure space are part of the new section of the house.

Inside, a neutral palette adheres to the simplicity and purity of the materials. The idea of interiority translates into openings oriented toward landscapes, framed views and strategically located courtyards; this allows for a view of greenery when walking down the corridor or soaking in the tub.

*The bath has access to natural light and strategically placed courtyards.*

*The perfect spot to cozy up to the fire with a glass of whiskey.*

The intervention's scale and the site's natural identity were always considered when choosing the construction approach and materials: stone, concrete, steel and wood. Inside, the white and the comfort of the wood balance with the raw and austere presence of the concrete. Outside, stone and concrete are carved in the same way, in a reinterpretation of the vernacular architecture of this region.

The project is in memory of Mr. António da Costa Gonçalves.