Libre House, by Mario Martins Atelier, was designed as a permanent residence, this single-story concrete home is organized around a central courtyard marked by a carob tree, with social spaces, kitchen and living, to the south and private bedrooms to the east. Its exposed concrete structure, raw and low maintenance by design, is punctuated by large, glazed surfaces that embrace sea views while remaining shielded from solar heat by a strikingly slim, cantilevered canopy. A long, linear swimming pool anchors the outdoor space, creating visual balance along the home’s southern façade.
- Name: Libre House
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 6
- Size: 4,480 sq. ft.
- Lot: 32,600 sq. ft.
- Built: 2022
On a sun-drenched hillside overlooking the Bay of Lagos in southern Portugal, Casa Libre is a contemporary single-story residence by Mário Martins Atelier that masterfully balances privacy and openness. Its orthogonal, clean-lined design in exposed concrete orients inward to a central patio, while expansive glazed openings face south, capturing panoramic ocean views. A slim, cantilevered canopy in matching concrete shades the terrace and garden, its minimal form lending lightness to the robust structure. The house is shaped by a duality of spaces, intimate corners for quiet reflection and wide, open areas for uninterrupted sightlines toward the Atlantic horizon.
A defining feature of Casa Libre is its long, linear swimming pool, a monolithic black volume from which water appears to cascade on all sides, mirroring the surrounding sea. The roof, designed as a walkable green platform, extends the living space outdoors, connecting to a drought-resistant Mediterranean garden designed to evolve with the seasons. Inside, a solid wood entrance door leads to the patio, marked by a native carob tree, dividing the social areas to the south from four private bedrooms along the eastern wing. The architectural language merges modern minimalism with vernacular sensitivity, integrating the house into its landscape rather than imposing upon it.
Sustainability underpins the home’s design, with carefully positioned openings that optimize solar gain while limiting heat loss. Photovoltaic and solar panels, paired with heat pumps and rainwater harvesting systems, minimize environmental impact while delivering high standards of comfort. Local, recyclable materials ground the house in its context, ensuring both durability and low maintenance as it ages. Casa Libre embodies a philosophy of creative freedom, shaping new, site-responsive solutions that prioritize environmental responsibility and quality of life on Portugal’s Algarve coast.
- Architect: Mario Martins Atelier
- Contractor: Raiz Engenharia
- Photography: Fernando Guerra
- Location: Lagos, Portugal
