Casa Coqueira / Tiago Sousa Arquitecto

Architects: Tiago Sousa Arquitecto
Area: 140 m²
Year: 2025
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio
Lead Architects: Tiago Sousa
Contractor: José Manuel Barreiro
Landscape Design: Tiago Sousa
Illustrations: Alex Rodrigues
Materials: Concrete, glass, wood
Lighting: Indelague
Carpentry: Carpintaria Stª Marinha
Location: Castanheira, Paredes de Coura
Country: Portugal

Casa Coqueira, designed by Tiago Sousa Arquitecto, is a 140 m² single-story residence completed in 2025 in Castanheira, Paredes de Coura, Portugal. The project occupies a site divided into two levels, with an upper area accessed from one road and a lower excavated platform enclosed by large granite retaining walls. A suspended concrete volume, supported by vertical planes rising five meters from the lower level, positions the house above the surrounding terrain and provides unobstructed views across the valleys of Minho. The residence follows a square geometric plan organized around a central entrance and circulation hall. Continuous wood paneling conceals doors at its four corners, while a square skylight introduces natural light into the enclosed space. The alignment of vertical planes establishes the interior arrangement, complemented by horizontal floor and roof slabs. A continuous perimeter balcony creates transitional spaces connecting the rooms to the landscape. Concrete, glass, and wood define the architectural palette, balancing structural solidity, transparency, and warmth within a restrained composition.

Casa Coqueira establishes its architectural identity through the relationship between geometry, elevation, and the contrasting conditions of its site. Designed by Tiago Sousa Arquitecto in Paredes de Coura, the house adopts a monolithic yet transparent form that responds to the surrounding topography. Its elevated position establishes a distinct separation from neighboring buildings while maintaining a connection with the natural landscape.

The property is organized across two levels with separate road connections. The upper level contains most of the land and is accessible from the higher road, while the lower level consists of an excavated, level platform contained by substantial granite retaining walls. These contrasting conditions inform the placement of the residence and the structural strategy that allows its principal volume to rise above the lower terrain.

Vertical concrete planes extend from the lower platform toward the upper level, supporting the suspended residential volume. Reaching approximately five meters in height, these structural elements establish the building’s relationship with the site while allowing it to overlook adjacent construction. The elevated arrangement improves visual openness toward the valleys and provides a more direct relationship with the upper portion of the property.

The positioning of the building results from balancing several site-specific considerations. The design seeks to maximize the surrounding views, maintain distance from nearby structures, and integrate the residence with the existing topography. Rather than extending across the different ground levels, the house concentrates its principal functions within a single elevated floor, allowing the horizontal composition to remain clearly defined.

At the lower level, the concrete planes serve an organizational purpose beyond their structural role. Positioned between the existing granite walls and the access to the main road, they establish exterior spaces and circulation routes. These areas accommodate landscaping, service functions, and the entrance, integrating the lower platform into the architectural arrangement.

The square forms the geometric basis of the floor plan, establishing a precise framework for the organization of interior spaces. At its center, an entrance and distribution hall introduce a distinctive spatial experience. Doors located at each of its four corners provide access to adjoining rooms but remain concealed within continuous wood cladding, creating an intentionally ambiguous sense of enclosure.

A square skylight above the central hall introduces natural light, counteracting the perceived absence of visible exits. The opening establishes a vertical source of illumination within the otherwise enclosed circulation space, emphasizing the relationship between geometry, surface continuity, and daylight. The wood cladding reinforces the hall’s visual coherence while concealing the functional connections to the surrounding rooms.

The remaining interior arrangement develops from the alignment of planes extending from this central square. Vertical elements organize the spatial divisions, while the horizontal floor and roof planes complete the composition. Their interaction establishes a consistent geometric language throughout the residence, connecting the central circulation area with the adjoining spaces.

Around the building’s perimeter, intermediate zones form a continuous balcony directly connected to the interior rooms. These spaces provide a transition between the enclosed living areas and the surrounding landscape. The balcony also extends the spatial experience beyond the glazed boundaries of the residence, reinforcing the relationship between the elevated volume and its setting.

The construction relies on three principal materials: concrete, glass, and wood. Concrete provides the structural framework and defines the building’s monolithic appearance, while glass introduces transparency to the elevations. Wood brings warmth to the interior, creating a contrast with the restrained and austere character of the exposed concrete.

The combination of these materials supports an architectural approach based on clarity and restraint. Structural elements remain central to the visual composition, while the treatment of interior surfaces contributes to a more welcoming domestic environment. The contrast between the solidity of concrete and the lighter visual presence of glass is balanced by the warmer tones of the timber finishes.

Casa Coqueira reflects the principle of “less is more,” associated with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Its architectural expression emerges from the coordinated use of structural planes, geometric organization, and functional spaces rather than additional formal complexity. The project demonstrates how a limited material palette and a precise spatial arrangement can establish a coherent relationship between a contemporary residence and its surrounding landscape.