The single-family home “House_JA”, located in Vila Nova de Gaia, has three floors and was designed to take advantage of the surrounding landscape The integration with the existing topography made it possible to structure the different spaces on each floor and their respective access, ensuring that the social areas and the private bedroom spaces benefit the views over the landscape, including the sea, the Douro estuary, the Douro River and the city of Porto.
© Nelson Garrido – NG Photo
The volumetry, the organisation of the spaces and the elevations reflect the intention to privilege the visual relationship with the landscape The elevation facing the street presents a more discreet and sheltered character, ensuring privacy and an introspective atmosphere at the entrance to the house, while the rear elevation opens up to the landscape.
© Nelson Garrido – NG Photo
The entrance floor houses the social areas, with large sliding windows that open fully onto the terrace, offering privileged views over the sea and the Douro estuary. This solution unifies the interior and exterior, reinforcing the perception of special openness and ensuring gradual and soft natural lighting.
© Nelson Garrido – NG Photo
On the first floor, there are three bedrooms, all oriented to enjoy the views over the sea and the Douro estuary, as well as panoramic views over the Douro River and the city of Porto. The bedrooms are characterised by serenity, contemplation and a privileged framing of the landscape.
© Nelson Garrido – NG Photo
The ground floor, designed to follow the natural topography, includes an exterior covered parking area for two vehicles, ensuring functionality and discreet integration into the volume. Inside this floor, which access to the other floors of the house, there are technical areas and a cinema/leisure room.
© Nelson Garrido – NG Photo
The building stands out for its materiality and pronounced geometry. The exposed concrete gives it a distinctive presence and a contemporary expression, with an identity shaped by its peculiar geometry. This combination allows the building to assert itself autonomously in the landscape, avoiding becoming just a simple viewpoint, while simultaneously reinforcing its presence and architectural character.
Project Info:
Architects: éOp – arquitectura e design
Country: Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Area: 315 m²
Year: 2025
Photography: Nelson Garrido – NG Photo
Lead Architect: Vitor Pimentão
Engineering & Consulting > Services: massacinza – Michael Andrade
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.