The Elliptic House in Portugal by Mario Martins Atelier

The Elliptic House is a masterful blend of sculptural art and functional architecture that effectively blurs the boundaries between both.

Located in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal, the 400sqm home was designed by Portugese architects, Mario Martins Atelier who credited their inspiration to nature, or more specifically, the wind and sea, exploring how both elements could possibly influence the geometry and form of the oval shaped residence.

THE DESIGN

Elliptical House is the result of an idea. It is based on a geometric shape and a volume sculpted by the landscapeA balance was sought between fullness and emptiness, weight and airiness, light and shade, or, the object and its image. It is a relationship between the real and the imagined, between physical and virtual spaces.

With its elliptical base, the house is deliberately sculptural and organic. It is shaped by the wind and the sea that wants to embrace the wide floating oval which subtly delimits the central patio of the house.

THE FINAL BUILDING

It is important to establish a subtle connection with the house next to it, to the east. A contemporary, dynamic balance was reached, and the same intense white is used in practically all the houses on this gentle, sunny slope. It is in this ambience that the house should be experienced, without being aware of where the house begins and ends. The fluidity and lightness of its organic design reflects natural shapes, thus defining the house architecturally in its natural setting. And that is the intention for when the building work is completed.





PROJECT DETAILS

  • Architects: Mário Martins Atelier
  • Localization: Luz, 8600, Portugal
  • Area: 400.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2014
  • Photographs: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
  • Collaboration: Sónia Fialho, Rui Duarte, Nuno Colaço, Sara Silva, Rui Santos
  • Construtor: Ilha & Ilha, Lda
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