The Ladeirinha project immediately stands out for its raw and striking use of materials and forms. Exposed concrete dominates the façades and interiors, where a helical staircase adds dynamism to the internal space. Large windows lighten the rear of the house, seamlessly connecting it to a private garden, while the main façade opens onto the wooded landscape of Fátima’s outskirts.
A Brutalist house in Portugal overlooking the forest
Experimental studio has designed a house in exposed concrete where a regular matrix is interrupted by sculptural staircases and large cantilevered terraces project out into nature.
Photo © Francisco Ascensão.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © Francisco Ascensão.
Photo © Frederico Martinho.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © Francisco Ascensão.
Photo © Francisco Ascensão.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © António Mesquita.
Photo © Frederico Martinho.
Photo © Francisco Ascensão.
Courtesy Experimental
Courtesy Experimental
Courtesy Experimental
Courtesy Experimental
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- Kevin Santus
- 31 March 2025
- Fátima, Portugal
- EXPERIMENTAL
- 360 sqm
- Semi-detached Houses
- 2024
The project consists of prefabricated industrial elements assembled on-site. The goal of the studio Experimental was not to interpret the daily routines of its inhabitants but rather to mediate their relationship with the surrounding nature. Beyond the visual contrast, this interaction is emphasized by projecting balconies that encourage residents to reach outward, offering an uninterrupted view of the valley.
Despite its unified exterior volume, the architecture consists of two adjacent private dwellings. The interior layout reflects the geometric precision of the exterior, with the staircase being the only element that breaks the regular pattern.
At first glance, the building exudes a severe character, yet it reveals its domesticity through its connection to the ground, its views of nature, and the warm tones of the interior flooring.
Site plan
Plan level 0
Section
Elevation
Construction scheme