House in Mundão by Um para Um Arquitectura e Engenharia – Contemporary Concrete Home in Viseu
A concrete and wood house on a sloped site, opening to an east-facing garden, with bright interiors, pool, and serene family spaces.
Located in the peaceful parish of Mundão, northeast of Viseu, House in Mundão by Um para Um Arquitectura e Engenharia is a refined example of contemporary residential architecture shaped by topography, light, and material honesty. Set on a longitudinal site with a steep incline rising from the street, the home’s architectural expression is directly informed by its terrain and orientation, unfolding as a serene family retreat that opens fully to its east-facing garden.
Site Context and Architectural Concept
The plot’s geometry and pronounced slope guided the project’s volumetric strategy. With solar orientation extending from west to east, the architects designed the house to embrace the morning sun, placing all primary living spaces toward the garden. This deliberate orientation enhances natural illumination while cultivating privacy from the street.
A key objective was to create an intimate, inward-looking home that maintains a seamless connection with outdoor living. The result is a quiet, protected sanctuary structured around an open leisure area equipped with a barbecue zone and a swimming pool—extending the house’s living environment into the landscape.
Materiality and Structural Expression
Material selection plays a central role in defining the home’s identity. Reinforced concrete forms the structural and aesthetic backbone of the project, offering durability, timelessness, and strong sculptural presence. Its austere expression is softened by the extensive use of natural wood slats, employed both externally and internally. This warm material contrast introduces comfort, enhances tactility, and visually integrates the home with the surrounding natural environment.
Interior and exterior spaces are animated by the dynamic interplay of natural light. Generous glazed openings, a central patio, and strategically placed skylights cast shifting shadows throughout the day and across seasons. This ever-changing illumination fosters a calming atmosphere and reinforces the home’s role as a tranquil refuge designed around family life.
Spatial Organization and Program Distribution
The program is thoughtfully divided across two floors, clearly separating social and private functions:
Ground Floor – Social and Service Spaces
- Garage and laundry room organized around an outdoor patio
- Entrance hall with direct connection to service areas
- Open-plan kitchen, dining room, and living room facing the garden
- Home office
- Guest bathroom
- Fluid indoor–outdoor transitions toward the pool and leisure deck
This level is designed for communal living, daily use, and social gatherings, emphasizing transparency and openness.
First Floor – Private Family Spaces
- Living/reading area serving as a quiet family lounge
- Bedrooms, each with a private bathroom
- Master suite with walk-in closet
- Continuous balcony facing east with views over the garden and pool
The elevated perspective enhances privacy while maximizing sunlight and landscape visibility.
Atmosphere and Architectural Experience
The architecture celebrates calmness, rhythm, and the subtle textures of daylight. The combination of concrete’s permanence and wood’s warmth, alongside controlled openings, produces a minimalist yet inviting atmosphere. Throughout the home, the architects balance solidity with softness, openness with retreat, and structure with nature.
