In Guimarães, Portugal, Artequitectos have completed Habitação CL, a private residence that balances contemporary expression with sensitivity to its site. Designed by architects Nuno Filipe Azevedo and Vítor Manuel Oliveira, the project arises from a dialogue between topography, materiality, and the rhythms of daily life. Rather than serving only a functional brief, the house was envisioned as a place where space, light, and time converge to create a serene and reflective environment.
HOUSING
The project is anchored by the extension of an existing retaining wall along the western boundary, a structural element that became the defining gesture of the design. This wall sets the elevation of the building, establishing a raised platform that allows the residence to rest discreetly above the site. By working with the urban morphology, the architects positioned the programme primarily on one level at garden height, while maintaining the two-storey reading characteristic of the surrounding built fabric.
Seeking a sense of privacy and retreat, the house is organised around a sheltered garden, framed by a northern retaining wall that stabilises the terrain and reinforces the idea of a contemplative patio. This inward orientation shapes an atmosphere of intimacy, where social and private zones are carefully articulated. Social areas extend directly into the garden, softening the threshold between interior and exterior, while private rooms are arranged for seclusion and calm.
Materiality plays a central role in the architectural identity of Habitação CL. Exposed concrete, left raw and textured, defines the structure and asserts scale. Thermally modified wood brings warmth and tactile presence, while travertine punctuates the house with a sense of permanence and quiet refinement. These elements are not decorative additions but integral components of the architectural expression, creating a balance between honesty and elegance.
Habitação CL is conceived as an exercise in synthesis. It stands at the intersection of building and inhabiting, of restraint and emotion, of architecture and time. Through careful engagement with its site, considered spatial organisation, and an authentic use of materials, Artequitectos have created a home that reflects a contemporary way of living while remaining deeply rooted in place.
