Garden House

Garden House is a residential project currently under construction on Rua da Preciosa, in Porto. The proposal seeks to reconcile two demands that often conflict in dense neighbourhoods: continuity with the existing street alignment and the need for a protected domestic interior. The project, therefore, develops a contained presence towards its surroundings while opening itself to a calmer, private outdoor space.

The design starts from the alignment established by neighbouring buildings and treats it as a generative boundary. From this limit, a solid volume is developed that anchors the house into the ground and is carved by voids that structure light, circulation, and the relationship between rooms. The spatial organisation emerges from this balance between mass and opening, producing a clear hierarchy across levels and a measured sequence between more public and more private areas.

At ground level, the main living spaces are kept in constant relation with the exterior, extending daily life towards the garden. A series of compact cores concentrate structural and functional elements, supporting the bedroom level above while allowing the ground floor to remain open, legible, and continuous. The upper floor accommodates four bedrooms with generous storage. Two bedrooms include private bathrooms, and the main suite is complemented by a walk-in wardrobe, consolidating private routines within a calmer and more protected level of the house.

Material choices reinforce the project’s restrained domestic character. IPE solid wood flooring is paired with lacquered timber skirtings, while the kitchen integrates marble finishes and concealed appliances, supporting a clear and precise interior language where everyday use is organised through continuity rather than ornament.