Portuguese architecture firm STUDIO_LPP has completed the Catribana House, a compact 75-square-meter residential project in São João das Lampas, Portugal. Located just one kilometer from the Atlantic coast in the lowlands north of Serra de Sintra, this modest dwelling demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a small lot into a functional and aesthetically pleasing home.
The project sits on a 200-square-meter lot surrounded by other modest dwellings in the small village of Catribana. The site originally contained a roofless ruin that had likely housed livestock, leaving behind only a stone masonry wall that bordered and enclosed the northern boundary of the property. Rather than removing this historical element, STUDIO_LPP chose to incorporate it into their design, positioning the new house 2-3 meters away from the existing wall to create proper illumination and ventilation for the home's interior spaces.
The design process faced significant regulatory challenges, with two initial licensing versions rejected for lacking "architectural context." This forced the architects to accept the municipal requirement for a traditional sloped roof with two equal pitches covered in Portuguese "lusa" tiles. What initially seemed like a constraint became the project's defining feature, as the architects transformed this imposed roof into the central organizing element that encompasses and characterizes the entire interior space.
Inside, the roof serves multiple functions, supporting the home's various activities including living, sleeping, eating, and hygiene areas. The architects defined the interior spaces using 7-centimeter-thick masonry planes that create necessary subspaces for daily life without touching the roof structure above. This approach eliminates many conventional residential elements such as doors, ceilings, cabinets, traditional finishes, and wood materials, creating a uniquely minimalist living environment.
The project explores the intimate needs of its single occupant, a longtime friend of the architects who has been living alone for several years. This personal relationship allowed the design team to experiment with unconventional spatial arrangements and question typical assumptions about comfort and privacy in residential design. The resulting space challenges conventional notions of how a home should be organized and furnished.
Architecturally, the house utilizes three distinct levels to create visual interest and functional separation. The entrance garden remains at the pre-existing ground level, while the main house sits 40 centimeters above this plane. The northern patio is positioned another 40 centimeters higher than the house itself, creating a stepped configuration that maximizes views of the Serra de Sintra over neighboring rooftops on clear days.
Material selection was driven by economic constraints and the need to work with local labor resources. The architects chose a standard construction system featuring a concrete structure clad in masonry with exterior insulation. The horizontal planes of both floor and roof remain exposed concrete, while all vertical surfaces, both interior and exterior walls, are finished with natural lime mortar that changes color throughout the day and over time, creating a dynamic visual experience.
The home's preparation and hygiene areas showcase a more luxurious material palette, constructed entirely of pink marble arranged in layered pieces that form shelves, countertops, a shower cabin, and restroom facilities. The glazing system represents another innovative approach, created as an "artifact" of aluminum frames overlaid on the interior plane of the walls that manage the house's complete enclosure. The window and door handles emerged from necessary interior openings and mathematical adjustments required for the glazing system to function properly.
Completed in 2024 under the coordination of Luís Pedro Pinto, the project team included Leandro Arez, André Martins, and Inês Batista, with technical engineering provided by GAPLR engenharia. The Catribana House represents a successful marriage of regulatory compliance and innovative design, demonstrating how architectural constraints can be transformed into creative opportunities that enhance rather than limit the final result.
