Casa en Gerês

The Peneda-Gerês National Park is the oldest protected area in Portugal (founded in 1971) and the only national park in the country. Situated in the far north near the Spanish border, the area receives a lot of rainfall and is therefore dense with rivers, wildlife, and small villages. The construction of six dams in the area of the Park also means the area is a popular tourist spot. The architect's design is a dramatic one, a concrete bar that cantilevers for about a third of its length. This decision helps to minimize the footprint of the house while reaching out towards the water and inserting the occupants into the setting. The cantilevered tip is occupied by the dining area, with the kitchen sitting between it and the living and entry in the middle and the bedrooms in the rear. It's a fairly straightforward plan for an otherwise daring design.