Casa Nau 64 | [i]da arquitectos

Located just a few meters from the Óbidos Lagoon, Casa Nau 64 asserts itself in a territory where nature is the structuring element. Set within surroundings defined by the verticality of stone pines (pinus pinea), the plot borders the dense vegetation of the National Ecological Reserve to the South. The project stems from the desire to establish a dialogue with this specificity, proposing an architecture defined by horizontality, designed in counterpoint to the vertical rhythm of the surrounding landscape.

This intention materializes in a volumetric organization defined by the superposition of three horizontal planes. The strategic composition of these layers allows for maximizing garden space, ensuring optimal solar orientation, and protecting the house from the region's strong winds. The entrance plane rises gently from the topography to mark the main access, preparing the arrival sequence, while a patio creates a void of light and ventilation that reveals life on the lower floor.

On the upper floor, the volume recedes to make way for the terrace plane, a generous space delimited by planters that bring vegetation into the domestic experience. It is at this level that the chimney emerges, the only vertical element standing out against the horizontal predominance. In turn, the building’s roof projects into a cantilevered canopy, protecting the entrance on the ground floor.

Internally, the house is structured through a clear distinction between social and private spheres. On the ground floor, the social area opens entirely to the garden through large glazed spans, where the boundary between interior and exterior dissolves under porches and pergolas that filter the light. The kitchen assumes a central role in this composition, articulating the entrance and the garden in a continuous flow. Reserved for the intimate zone, the upper floor houses three suites, all with direct access to the terrace and views over the landscape. In turn, the lower level is dedicated to the garage and technical areas; this floor is served by a patio that introduces natural light and discreetly houses technical equipment.

The project's coherence extends to its materiality. The exterior surfaces are finished with slaked lime and inorganic pigmentation in a sand tone, endowing the building with a mineral quality that attunes to the hues of the Lagoon landscape. Wooden shutters also play a fundamental role in the house's expression and performance. Besides protecting the interior from direct solar incidence, the design of these elements reinforces the reading of horizontal lines, accentuating the project's formal intention. The use of natural wood further establishes a visual bridge with the pine trunks, definitively anchoring the construction to its natural ecosystem.