Set in the landscape of Paredes, next to the Tâmega River, the house appears to emerge naturally from the terrain. Clad in cork and designed to dialogue with its surroundings, it maintains a discreet, almost camouflaged presence. A pedestrian pathway, carved into the landscape, leads to a central courtyard where the river and mountains become an integral part of the architectural experience.
The building’s form follows the natural topography, ensuring a fluid connection between indoors and outdoors. Sustainable materials like reclaimed granite and cork reinforce its commitment to environmental harmony.
Integration
Located in a village in Paredes, with Uncle Tâmega as a backdrop, Casa da Levada blends into the rural landscape where it is situated, featuring a design that integrates architecture with the surrounding nature. An architecture that evokes the idea of a built natural environment, an architecture that arises from the very material of which the site is made. The shape of the house is molded by the terrain, creating a visual and physical continuity between the building and the natural environment.
Functionality
The pedestrian path to the house appears as a paved groove over the green surface of the land. A tectonic fault separates the volumes of the house dedicated to social spaces and private spaces, leading to the central courtyard. The house develops around the courtyard, embracing it. It creates an outdoor space for gathering, where horizontal overhangs frame the surrounding landscape.
Comfort
For climate control of the building, a water radiant floor system was adopted using a heat pump for heating and cooling the interior. The ceramic flooring contributes to a faster and more efficient transfer of radiation. A Controlled Mechanical Ventilation (CMV) system with a heat exchanger was also installed to ensure air renewal without significant losses of interior temperature. The glazing was carefully placed, with exterior mechanical protection in the form of solar shading or blinds, to optimize thermal solar gains in winter and minimize the impact of heat in summer.
Sustainability
The technical and construction choices follow the idea of integrating the house into the landscape, improving energy efficiency and the durability of the building alongside a commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability. Examples of this include the use of cork panels as the exterior cladding of the house, a landscaped roof (continuing with the terrain), and the stone patio constructed with the integration of stone from the ruins, whose stereotomy design was based on the reuse of the granite stones.
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Project name: Casa da Levada
Architecture Office: Tsou Arquitectos
Main Architect: Tiago Tsou
Location: Rua do Gondeiro, Penafiel, Portugal
Year of conclusion: 2024
Total area: 300 m²
Architectural Photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio
Indonesian 
English