A city house covered in greenery, with a swimming pool on the roof. It sounds like an ideal brief, and the Portuguese architects Luís Rebelo de Andrade, Tiago Rebelo de Andrade and Manuel Cachão Tojal have made it a reality.
The façade of this narrow rectangular building is covered by a total of 4,500 plants. Twenty-five species from the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean give each floor its own fragrance, which drifts into the interior through the large openings, along with abundant natural light.
The house is arranged over three floors, linked by a single, striking staircase that recalls the imposing steps of Alfama, in the old part of the Portuguese capital.
The ground floor holds the garage and a dedicated music room with flawless acoustics. The bedrooms are on the first level, while the living room and dining room are on the second.
On the roof terrace, the long, narrow pool is “hidden” within the timber deck. Portholes in its base allow a visual connection with what is happening on the second floor. There is also an “observatory” with mirrored outer surfaces, where you can enjoy the view of the city undisturbed by prying eyes.
