Meco’s House / DNSJ.arq

Architects: DNSJ.arq
Area: 272 m²
Year: 2018
Manufacturers: GRAPHISOFT, Duravit, CIFIAL, CIN, Oli, Sanitana, Velux, https://cin.com/deco/pt/en/
Lead Architect: DNSJ.arq / Nuno Simões
Category: Houses
Project Team: Nuno Simões / Sergio Rebelo / Miguel Cavaleiro
Clients: Rui Costa e Luis Araújo
Engineering: Mário Neto – Engenharia, Consultadoria e Avaliações,
City: Sesimbra (Castelo)
Country: Portugal

Meco’s House, designed by DNSJ.arq, reinterprets a pre-existing structure on a flat, rectangular plot oriented from northeast to southwest, ending in a pine forest. The project rebuilds the house as a single-story dwelling, giving it a new architectural character with a transparent facade that opens fully to views of the forest. In contrast to the glazed frontage, two volumes, a concrete agricultural annex with a porch and a water tank, introduce a counterpoint of materiality and form. The internal layout prioritizes social spaces, particularly the kitchen and living room, which are central to events centered on organic agriculture. Every area connects directly to the outside, reinforcing the strong bond between the house and its landscape. The positioning of the new structures aligns with the footprint of previous buildings and the natural geometry of the pines. The chosen materials and architectural clarity reinforce the relationship between the agricultural function of the site and its natural forest setting.

Located on an almost flat rectangular plot, oriented in a northeast to southwest direction and ending in a pine forest, Meco’s House was developed through the transformation of a pre-existing structure. The intention was to give the original house a renewed identity and reconstruct it with improved spatial and material quality. A defining feature of the project is its connection to the outdoors, achieved by rebuilding it as a single-story dwelling and incorporating a transparent facade that opens up panoramic views of the pine forest to the southwest through a large glazed surface.

In contrast to the transparent facade at the front, two volumes are positioned: an agricultural support structure with a porch and a tank, both constructed in exposed concrete. The horizontal orientation of these volumes stands in deliberate contrast to the vertical presence of the surrounding maritime pines.

The house is rectangular in form and extends toward the northeast through a porch that gradually narrows in width. This porch includes several distinct and open areas, such as a sheltered seating space, a vehicle shelter, and a storage area.

The interior layout of the house prioritizes the social areas, specifically the living room and kitchen, over the two proposed bedrooms. These spaces are frequently used to host social events aimed at sharing knowledge about organic agriculture, from cultivation to preparation. There is a strong connection between the house and the surrounding land, allowing access to the outdoors from any point within the house. In addition, the house is self-sufficient, with solar energy devices installed on a large terrace, along with an open area designated for a car shelter and storage.

The new buildings were positioned according to the orientation of the original structures and the existing maritime pines, with the goal of integrating the project into its surroundings. Rather than emphasizing the presence of the house and the agricultural annex, the aim was to blend them into the environment. The choice of materials, along with the simplicity and formal solidity of the design, seeks to reinforce the connection between an agricultural property set within a maritime pine forest and the buildings situated within it.