The house is designed as a compact volume of two floors, complemented by three courtyards. Each courtyard presents a different size and purpose. Located in the south of the house, the first courtyard is secluded and intimate, embracing a big, pre-existing cork oak. Next to the back entrance there is another smaller patio, meant for daily service needs.
The third courtyard works as a key element in the relationship between the house and the north side. A slim space with a large horizontal opening that frames the landscape, it has the atmosphere of a "inner space outdoors".
Here, the light is soft, by reflection on the outer wall that receives direct sunlight. The third courtyard communicates with a staircase, which leads to an open terrace. This is the last element of the sequence of spaces: all the courtyards generate diverse, sequential atmospheres — from introspective and private to open and public.

Architecture: Miguel Marcelino
Collaboration: Pedro Dourado
Structural Engineering: Pedro Monteiro
Plumbing Engineering: Pedro Monteiro
Electrical Engineering: Orlando Sousa
Landscape Design: Ana Amaro
Phases: 2009-2010 (project), 2010-2012 (construction)
General Contractor: Campelo & Campelo
Gross Floor Area: 282 square metres
Gross Volume: 854 cubic metres
Building Footprint: 173 square metres
Site Area: 2175 square metres
Energy Efficiency Class: A+
Location: Vila Nova de Santo Estêvão, Benavente, Portugal
Client: Private







Time Space Existence: the Future of Architecture In Venice
Until November 23, 2025, Venice is the global hub for architectural discussion with "Time Space Existence." This biennial exhibition, spearheaded by the European Cultural Centre, features projects from 52 countries, all focused on "Repairing, Regenerating, and Reusing" for a more sustainable future.