The 2023 PPA House in Trofa, Portugal, by N O A R Q | noarquitectos features a single-floor layout focused on sustainability. The 357.70-square-meter area incorporates a central quadrangular courtyard and is divided into three zones—social, bedroom, and parking—providing both privacy and openness. The house uses exposed concrete and plastered masonry for its structural walls, addressing economic sustainability and the life cycle of construction. A gallery shelters the courtyard, while the house’s infrastructure is hidden within plasterboard ceilings for economy and accessibility.
Casa PPA in Trofa occupies a corner plot of 931 square meters. Situated about 1 meter above street level, it follows the natural slope of the land towards the road junction. This urban site, a mixture of rurality and sporadic urban presence, offered unique challenges and opportunities to the designers at N O A R Q | noarquitectos. Designed in 2023, the residence forms an irregular polygon, aligned with the public roads, and is punctuated by a square central courtyard.
The layout focuses on exposure and privacy, addressed by a geometric form that reacts to the street alignments. The configuration of the house is divided into three main zones. A covered parking area protects the south façade, opening to the west. To the north, the bedroom wing opens onto the eastern patio. This courtyard layout contributes to a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, serving domestic activities and maintaining privacy. The natural and structural elements resist public scrutiny, delineated by exterior indifference.
The house is based on a composition strategy that prioritizes ethical and economic sustainability. Recognizing the environmental, operational and chronological needs of architecture, the project opts for a passive and skeletal architectural language. The load-bearing walls and slabs intentionally expose their raw concrete nature. The other walls, meanwhile, are economically clad in plastered masonry.
The façades are clad with the Exterior Thermal Insulation System (ETICS), which responds to efficiency and environmental concerns. The ceiling infrastructures are covered with plasterboard which is economical and accessible to install. In an ingenious way, the heating is integrated into the floor, leading to an economical and efficient installation of the system.
The exterior materials reflect the interior philosophy. The exterior paving uses paving stones, derived from the granite of the site. In addition, an informed landscaping strategy features foliage endemic to the region, enveloping the enclosure with vegetation.
The main areas of Casa PPA respond to the functionality and orientation of the site. The living room, dining room and an interconnected kitchen occupy the common area, facing southwest towards the corner. Connected by a vestibule, the kitchen benefits from direct communication with the parking lot. It is subtly divided by 2.1-meter-high cupboards, which simultaneously give access to service areas such as the pantry and laundry room.
To the front, the private wing houses two bedrooms flanking the northern section. An additional bedroom, with a dressing area and private bathroom, completes this autonomous domain. Each space opens onto the courtyard, improving ventilation and light, complemented by a covered outdoor gallery that ensures weather protection and connection.
This careful combination of design elements exemplifies the architects’ dedication to balancing aesthetics, functionality and environmental responsibility. The proposed housing development is a synthesis of wider urban trends and localized architectural responses, creating a solid relationship between structure and nature.
