Casa Quase Verde, designed by PSB Arquitectos, is situated in a rural area defined by eucalyptus forests, scattered homes, industrial warehouses, and a school. Despite its unremarkable surroundings, the project introduces a thoughtful architectural approach that balances openness with privacy. The home extends outward through carefully placed openings while maintaining a sense of enclosure to protect its occupants from external views.
The single-story residence adopts a rectangular layout, ensuring a smooth interaction between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Lateral and vertical openings punctuate the structure, creating moments where the interior extends toward the natural environment while allowing sunlight to filter through.
A Harmonious Integration of Color and Context
The house’s exterior reflects its surroundings, using a subtle grey-green color that integrates with the eucalyptus vegetation on site. The chosen color, a muted grey with a slight green undertone, aligns with the clients’ preferences while helping the building settle naturally into its environment. The strategic placement of opaque walls, interrupted by recessed openings and courtyards, improves both privacy and visual harmony.
These recessed courtyards are essential to the design. They break the otherwise solid facade, offering protected outdoor spaces and acting as buffers between the house and its surroundings.
Organized Zones and Thoughtful Flow
The layout of Casa Quase Verde is organized into three distinct zones: Social, Private, and Technical. Though housed within the same rectangular volume, these zones remain clearly defined. A central corridor acts as the organizing axis, linking all parts of the home and guiding movement through the spaces.
The social zone, located parallel to the corridor, brings together the kitchen, dining area, and living room into one open, continuous space. This area is further connected to a covered patio, which functions as an extension of the living space. An organic opening in the roof introduces a striking feature, a tree that grows through the structure, reinforcing the connection to nature.
The private zone, positioned in the western section of the home, contains three bedrooms, including a master suite. Each bedroom opens onto a secluded patio that faces west, creating a quiet and comfortable retreat for the residents. These courtyards bring light and ventilation into the rooms. The two interior courtyards located in the central part of the house serve as additional sources of natural light.
Balancing Privacy and Light
A defining feature of Casa Quase Verde by PSB Arquitectos, is its ability to balance light and privacy. The large expanses of opaque walls prevent unwanted visual access from the surrounding area, while carefully positioned openings ensure that the interior remains bright and connected to the outdoors.
The integration of courtyards throughout the home ensures that natural light permeates the spaces, softening the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. These courtyards not only provide light but also improve the overall functionality of the home, acting as pockets of calm that can be enjoyed throughout the day.
Project name: Casa Quase Verde
Architecture Office: PSB arquitectos
Main Architect: Pedro Santos Barbosa
Collaboration: Claudia Sofia Santos
Location: Ovar, Portugal
Year of conclusion: 2022
Total area: 235.00 m²
Engineering: Losangódromo Engenharia
Architectural photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio
