Architects: Helder da Rocha Arquitectos
Area: 204 m²
Year: 2025
Photographs: Ivo Tavares Studio
Manufacturers: BRUMA, JNF, Roca
Lead Architects: Helder da Rocha Arquitectos
Building Company: Avelar e Pias
Engineering: Massa Cinza Engenheiros
Landscape: SL Paisagistas
City: Croca
Country: Portugal
Pedrantil House residential project by Helder da Rocha Arquitectos uses the natural slope of its hillside site as the foundation for design. The architects abandoned an initial plan to cut through the hill due to high costs and instead positioned a group of volumes across the terrain. These forms, finished in cappotto with exposed concrete details, adapt to the topography while reducing structural demands. Pedrantil House orchestrates the gradual revelation of the western horizon, culminating in a large living room window that frames the landscape.
Pedrantil House designed by Helder da Rocha Arquitectos began with a hillside site where a rise at the entrance blocked any view of the horizon. By climbing the small elevation, the architects identified sweeping western vistas that quickly shaped the direction of the project.
The initial concept proposed cutting through the hill to make the view visible directly from the street. Although compelling, this intervention required extensive excavation and structural reinforcement, which proved financially unfeasible after preliminary cost evaluations.
The design approach shifted to minimize earthworks and avoid retaining walls or large reinforced concrete elements. The solution was to distribute volumes across the terrain, using the slope as an active part of the composition rather than altering it.
Each volume was treated as a distinct box finished in cappotto, with exposed concrete defining bases and openings. This material contrast established a sense of grounding while keeping construction simple and efficient.
The varying heights of these forms created differences in interior spaces, producing an architecture where movement through the house aligns with the rhythm of the land. This strategy enriched the spatial character without requiring costly structural interventions.
The sequencing of views became a key theme. The approach and surrounding landscape were designed to conceal the horizon at first, gradually allowing glimpses that build anticipation as one moves deeper into the dwelling.
The experience culminates in the living room, where a single large west-facing window frames the full expanse of the landscape. This moment anchors Pedrantil House to its hillside setting, combining economy, terrain sensitivity, and a carefully choreographed encounter with light and view.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Croca, Penafiel, Portugal
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
