PONTE HOUSE || Innovative Design Meets Nature in Portugal's Architectural Gem
Nestled in the heart of Amarante, Portugal, the Ponte House stands as an ode to the surrounding nature.
Designed to embrace the morphology of the land, this project—aptly named after its bridge-like structure—offers a seamless blend of interior luxury and the verdant outdoors.
The Ponte House’s form has been carved by the very landscape it resides in. The narrow and extended terrain dictated a unique volumetric approach, resulting in a home that not only integrates with its environment but also enhances it. By elevating the structure, the architects created a residence that bridges the terrain, allowing the land’s natural slope to pass undisturbed beneath it.
The large concrete roof sits atop two polycarbonate boxes.
A significant feature of the Ponte House is its expansive concrete roof, which effortlessly spans two light-infused polycarbonate boxes. This innovative use of materials draws the eye to the contours of the residence and creates an impression of suspension as if the house itself is afloat. The architects’ response to local mandates for sloping roofs was intelligent and aesthetically revolutionary.
The exterior of the Ponte House is a symphony of flat, clean lines where concrete, aluminum slats and polycarbonate merge without the need for adjunct layers. The house’s orientation is deliberate, focusing on the forest’s green canopy in the distance, ensuring privacy due to the elevation above the ground level.
Within its walls, the Ponte House offers a fluidity of space that extends outward, dissolving the barriers between inside and outside. The private quarters, encased in polycarbonate, ensure seclusion, while the social spaces are encased in glass, inviting interaction and communal living. Wooden flooring in the private zones and micro cement in the public areas provide a tactile continuity with the concrete slabs outside, blending the textures of the home with the rugged landscape.
The materials blend with the natural landscape.
Large windows invite light to cascade through, allowing uninterrupted views of the lush gardens. The variable ceiling heights, a product of the innovative hipped roof, instill a dynamic hierarchy within the social areas. These spaces are further enhanced by a grand rectangular oculus punctuating the roof, flooding the area with natural light and reinforcing the home’s elegant ambiance.
The backyard, a serene tableau with a pool area overlooking sloping lush greenery, is a private retreat within the estate. A cleverly designed container extends over the pool, creating an intimate sun-tanning nook shielded from neighbouring gazes while welcoming the sun’s caress through its open design.
The ideal hangout above the pool.
Practicality meets luxury as sliding doors reveal shaded walkways under the protective embrace of the concrete roof. These pathways offer respite from Portugal’s intense summer heat and frame the stunning views of the surrounding greenscape.
The Ponte House is a sanctuary that embodies the essence of its locale while providing a luxuriant living experience. It stands as a paragon of design that respects and reflects the natural beauty of Amarante, Portugal, creating an everlasting bond between architecture and the art of living.
The sliding glass doors of both the social and resting quarters are oriented towards the sloping hills that extend from the site’s backyard.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project name: Casa Ponte . Ponte House
Architecture Office: stu.dere – Oficina de Arquitetura e Design, Lda
Main Architect: Ulisses Costa
Location: Amarante, Portugal
Year of conclusion : 2023
Total area: 970 m2
Constructor: Habirobim – Construção e Reabilitação, Lda
Architectural photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio