CS House Carved Into U Shape Around Patio

CS House by Walaa is located within the semi-rural surroundings of Águeda, Portugal. Designed in 2024, the home is organized around a triangular plot, maximizing light and privacy for a family. The structure features a U-shaped plan that carves out a private patio, extending to a detached pool.

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Triangular plot and rational approach

Walaa completed Casa CS on the outskirts of Águeda, Portugal, characterized by its geometric shape and careful orchestration of light and privacy. Designed on a triangular plot, the house was conceived as an exercise in rationality, with the aim of creating a space that integrates perfectly into everyday life. The site allowed the architects to position the house as a simple orthogonal shape in the landscape, with “occasional openings” designed to create a light-filled environment.
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The team used a minimalist aesthetic, sculpting the orthogonal volume into a U-shape and creating a private interior courtyard. This configuration guarantees maximum privacy and controlled sun exposure, while extending to a separate swimming pool. The project embraces the courtyard, making it the focal point of family life and allowing for a clear distribution of living spaces and the house program.
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Geometry and Interaction with Light

The house is defined by its simplicity, underlined by corner windows that break up the rigidity of the volume and reinforce the specificity of the interior spaces. These features allow natural light to penetrate all parts of the house, with more controlled openings facing the road for privacy and opening onto the courtyard. This careful modulation of light creates varied atmospheres from morning to night, responding to the daily rhythms of its inhabitants.
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“The idea of light passing through this object, reflecting on it and on its materials, outside and inside, in its minimal finishes and in the simplicity of the shapes and textures, is punctuated by the exposed concrete elements of the porches,” said Walaa.

The concrete elements extend the volume beyond its limits, reinforcing the building’s connection with its surroundings.

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Response to context and needs

CS House is a thoughtful response to its semi-rural context, using a clear geometry that anchors the building in its environment. The design reflects a commitment to understanding and engaging with the site, turning constraints into opportunities. By maintaining a rational and considered approach, the architects have created a dwelling that not only meets the client’s needs, but also elevates everyday life through meticulous attention to form, light and detail.
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A modern, minimalist building with clean lines, large windows, and a flat roof.
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Photography by Ivo Tavares Studio
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- by Matt Watts

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