6 incredible houses in Portugal: the wow effect is guaranteed!

Discover 6 incredible houses in Portugal. The kind of houses that make you say “Wow” to yourself. So, among these 6 incredible homes, the “Wow” effect, depending on the property, won’t be for the same reasons, but in any case these homes won’t leave you speechless.

3 of these 6 homes were featured in the BBC documentary ” The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes “, which regularly highlights the world’s most extraordinary homes. Casa do Monte, Wall House and Casa do Gerês , which I’ll tell you about next, were in the documentary. The other three are not, but I’ve chosen to tell you about them because, in a different register, these houses are also incredible in their atypicality.

1. Casa Monte (south of Lisbon)

The first of these incredible homes in Portugal is Casa Monte. A 400 m2 house located in Grândola, south of Lisbon. The area’s natural, bohemian and minimalist character is evident in the choice of decor for this home, where white, wood and concrete take center stage.

This house, built in 2009 by Portuguese architect Pereira Miguel , is known in the region as “Casa das dunas” (thehouse of the dunes). And that’s precisely why this house is so atypical and incredible. It’s hidden, nestled, embedded, integrated… in the sand dunes. Dunes that are part of the DNA of the Comporta area, for those who know! This house is therefore almost invisible when you arrive, as it is cleverly “blended” into the sand dunes.

To realize this project, 120 tons of sand were used to create two artificial dunes in which this incredible house nestles. The architecture itself echoes the dunes with its undulating form. So, are you seduced by Casa das Dunas?

Photo credit: Fernando Guerra

2. Wall house (North Lisbon)

My big “Wahouuuu” was for this house… well… for its pools!

The WallHouse was built in 2013 in Cascais, north of Lisbon, by the Guedes Cruz architectural firm. This 1,100m2 house of concrete, wood and glass stands like a colossus among the trees. The gigantic bay windows are clad with wooden elements that can be closed for darkness, privacy and protection from the sea winds.

But what makes it incredible are its two pools, on two levels. Two intersecting outdoor pools, one on the ground and the other in the air. The first is at ground level, while the second is positioned perpendicular to the first on the upper level. The upper pool has a glass bottom, allowing swimmers above to say “cuckoo” to their buddies below, and vice versa. (I confess that it was these pools that made me fall in love with this house – take a look below, you’ll understand).

Photo credit: Ricardo Oliveira Alves

3. Casa do Gerês (Northern Portugal)

As you may have guessed, the Wall House’s two glass-encased swimming pools turned my head. I have to say that I also appreciate the Casa do Gerês. This 2015 house is located in Vieira do Minho, in the Caniçada valley. I really like it because it blends in completely with its surroundings, and it’s located in a region I’m particularly fond of: the Peneda-Gerês National Park area.

Originally, there was a small house and a stream. The small house was demolished and the new house, designed by the Portuguese architect Carvalho Araújo, was built with respect for nature and the original environment. The stream and the topography of the land were preserved. The house is on several levels and the stream has been used to create a magnificent natural swimming pool.

Like the other incredible homes we’ve seen, the materials used are mainly concrete, wood and glass, which blend perfectly with the surrounding nature.

Photo credit: Hugo Carvalho Araújo

4. Casa Elíptica (Algarve)

Casa Elíptica, near Lagos in the Algarve, looks like a Hollywood house.

What makes this house incredible is its shape, imagined by Portuguese architect Mário Martins. An elliptical shape with a sculpted oval on the roof that seems to float above the house’s terrace.

In addition to the oval shapes, white is also omnipresent in this house, both inside and out. A white that characterizes many of the Algarve houses that stretch along this coast.

Photo credit: Fernando Guerra

5. Casa do Penedo (Northern Portugal)

In a completely different register, but still with a guaranteed wow effect, I present the Casa do Penedo: another incredible house in Portugal. On the hills of Fafe, in northern Portugal, stands a completely atypical house. It’s often compared to the Flintstones family home, and it’s true that it looks a bit like one.

Flintstones house

This house, called Casa do Penedo, was built in 1974 between four boulders by the Rodrigues family. It was their vacation home, and the family had no idea of the tourist attraction their house would become, as it attracts many curious visitors today.

It took two years of work to transform this block of stone into a home. The interior would be as rustic as the exterior: no electricity, candlelight, heating by the fireplace and a bed made of eucalyptus wood and concrete, ouille le dos! 🙂

Photo credit: Pablo Garcia Chao

6. Casa Invertida (Azores)

Finally, here’s another incredible house located on the island of São Miguel in the beautiful Portuguese islands of the Azores. This curious house stands in the heart of a residential area of Furnas. The “casa invertida” (inverted house) lives up to its name by resting on the roof.

In fact, I’m cheating a little, as it’s not really a house at all, but an AED(Empresa de Electricidade dos Açores) electricity substation. Although it’s not a house, it has become the local tourist attraction because of its originality.

Casa Invertida

In conclusion

Each house more atypical than the last, blending originality and nature. All incredible in their own way, from the north to the south of Portugal. And if you’re looking for a house that’s a little more “classic”, the Villa Feria team will be happy to help you in your search.