Casa Corten in Portugal is a residential project that responds directly to the layered history and complex topography of its site, a former timber factory, now reduced to traces of oxidized steel. The design approach by HPA Arquitetura, led by architect Hugo Pereira, is grounded in contextual sensitivity and a commitment to minimizing the intervention’s impact on the landscape. The fragmented volumetry and integration with the natural contours allow the house to merge with its environment rather than dominate it.
Site Integration and Form
The steep slope and challenging solar orientation dictated the core strategies. Green roofs on both levels enable the house to read as an extension of the terrain, visually softening its presence and promoting ecological continuity. The building’s mass is strategically lifted and oriented westward, optimizing passive solar gains and inviting natural light into the lower level, while maintaining and celebrating the existing native vegetation. The garden, both spatially and conceptually, forms the heart of the project, linking the two floors and transforming site constraints into defining features.
Architectural Solutions
The upper floor is recessed, echoing the site’s topography and providing privacy from nearby paths. Expansive glazed façades dissolve the boundary between interior and landscape, maximizing daylight and panoramic views. A perforated corten steel brise-soleil on the southern façade functions as both a sun-shading device and a privacy filter, reinforcing the building’s material identity.
Materiality and Interior Experience
Material choices reflect a dialogue with the site’s industrial past and its natural context. Corten steel wraps the exterior and extends into transitional interior spaces, juxtaposed with irregularly textured, naturally stained concrete. This tactile palette embraces imperfection and authenticity, establishing a chromatic and textural coherence throughout. The spatial organization prioritizes openness and visual connection to the outdoors. The entrance hall, clad in corten and wood, serves as a vertical connector between the private lower level (housing four suites) and the social upper level (kitchen, dining, and living areas beneath a dynamic, high-pitched roof with 360-degree views). Custom-designed furniture and curated decorative elements reinforce the architectural intent.
Sustainability and Outdoor Living
Sustainability is central, with features such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels, deciduous vegetation for passive shading, and integrated home automation. These strategies ensure high energy efficiency and environmental responsiveness. Outdoor spaces are conceived as direct extensions of the interior, featuring patios, a garden with native and aromatic species, an accessible green roof for relaxation, an outdoor kitchen with wood-fired oven, exterior fireplace, heated jacuzzi, and an infinity pool within a naturalistic pond and landscape. This ensemble fosters a living environment that balances social interaction with tranquility and immersive contact with nature.
Applied Products
- Flos: Lighting
- Areastore: Decoration
- Normo: Lighting
- Tupai: Accessories
- Nogueira: Woods
- Aço Corten: Exterior cladding
- ASMtaps: Faucets
- Bosch & LG: Appliances
- Roca: Ventilation, heating, and sanitaryware
Studio Profile: HPA Arquitetura
Founded in 2009 in Celorico de Basto by Hugo Pereira, HPA Arquitetura is recognized for its rigorous, context-driven practice and pursuit of innovative, sustainable solutions. The studio’s contemporary language is shaped by a young, multidisciplinary team, emphasizing research, conceptual freedom, and attention to detail. Their methodology is collaborative, open to new paradigms, and rooted in the belief that each project should sensitively reflect its physical and cultural context while enhancing the lived experience. The studio’s creative environment is defined by passion, shared inspiration, and a strong human component.
Discover more of the project in our gallery:
Casa Corten by HPA Arquitetura
Location: Celorico de Basto, Portugal
Year of Completion: 2025
Architect: Hugo Pereira
Studio: HPA Arquitetura
Photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio
Total Area: 495.5 m²
For more of HPA works visit: www.hpaarquitetura.com
For more of Ivo’s work visit: www.ivotavares.net
