Designed by Manuel Aires Mateus, Casas na Areia transforms a cluster of former fishermen's houses on Portugal's Alentejo coast into a contemporary retreat deeply rooted in its landscape.
Set between rice fields, pine forests and the Atlantic Ocean, the project preserves the modest scale and character of the original buildings while redefining the relationship between architecture and nature.Sand replaces conventional flooring in the living spaces, extending the nearby dunes into the interiors and dissolving the boundary between house and nature.
The project draws from local building traditions rather than replicating them. The original houses were simple structures with thatched roofs, earthen floors and spaces shaped by everyday life along the coast. Their character remains present, translated through a restrained palette of timber, whitewashed walls, natural textiles and generous openings that frame the changing landscape throughout the day.
Originally conceived as a private family retreat, Casas na Areia gradually found a wider audience after being selected to represent Portugal at the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale. International recognition followed, but what continues to define the project is something far less spectacular.
Guests often arrive expecting to explore the surrounding beaches, villages and nature reserves, only to discover that the house itself becomes the destination. Days unfold between the terraces, sandy interiors and quiet courtyards, where the changing light, the sound of the wind and the proximity of nature become part of the architecture itself.
Nearly two decades later, the project continues to feel remarkably timeless, proving that simplicity rarely loses its relevance.
