Hillside House, There are houses that struggle to understand and connect with their setting, showing a certain unease or lack of coherence in the choice of where to settle — choices that, for emotional reasons or creative visions, end up being justified and even triumphant! Some houses are like that, which only makes it more surprising and pleasant when we discover that the house reimagines itself, shaping a unique and personal atmosphere that gives it both context and identity.
© Ivo Tavares Studio
A generous stretch of land, with gentle topography, accepts the presence of a built volume: a linear, single-story structure, placed lightly above the ground, opening towards an interior-facing exterior — an inward-looking outdoor space, sheltered from a not-so-appealing surrounding.
© Ivo Tavares Studio
Perhaps this was the project’s greatest challenge. Perhaps this was where the developers most exceeded their own doubts and expectations: wanting that specific plot, but envisioning a refined, quiet environment — free from visual or sensory noise of any kind. A desire to still feel the place, but live in a world “of their own”, contemporary and elevated in quality.
© Ivo Tavares Studio
The construction itself is shaped by a simple layout and even simpler, perhaps wiser, material choices. It seeks sunlight and exposure, follows a rational, functional organisation, structured by horizontal circulations that connect social areas, private spaces for rest and retreat, and areas for fun or support. It opens to the outside — a large green lawn — creating overlapping paths and surfaces, blending glass and aluminium (as key elements of lightness and clarity) with concrete and paint (as supporting and energising materials), aiming for a calm, familiar way of living. Ultimately, everything the owners dreamed of — proving architecture to be that creative act of embracing the new and artistic, placing beauty and imagination in the service of people, and for people.
Project Info
Architects: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Country: Portugal, Santo Tirso
Area: 4241 ft²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Ivo Tavares Studio
Engineering: Fénix Engenharia Civil
Landscaping: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Lighting Project: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Acoustics: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Plumbing: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Thermal: Fénix Engenharia Civil
Visual Identity: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Illustrations: Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Interior Decoration: AAR Déco
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.