Nevogilde House by Anarchlab: A Contemporary Family Home in Porto, Portugal

Nevogilde House, designed by Anarchlab Architecture Laboratory, is a contemporary family residence located in the heart of Porto. Originally conceived for a couple with two children, the project evolved during construction to accommodate a growing family of five. The architects’ approach emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and a strong connection with nature, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces while respecting the site’s historical context, including the pre-existing stone house that anchors the project.

Architectural Concept & Spatial Design

The design prioritizes generous social areas that encourage relaxation and family interaction. The house engages fully with its private garden through expansive south-facing glass façades on the ground floor, creating bright, open interiors that merge with the outdoors. Outdoor living spaces feature handcrafted solid brick paving and a multifunctional concrete bench that transitions fluidly from exterior seating to interior furniture, reinforcing the home’s material continuity and warmth.

The upper floor carefully positions bedrooms to the South and East, ensuring optimal daylight and privacy, avoiding the now noisy and urbanized north-facing square. The master suite stands out as a glazed volume floating above a private terrace, shaded by delicate ribbed iron structures designed for vertical gardens, acting as sun, rain, and privacy filters. This interplay of materials—exposed concrete, brick, and iron—creates a tactile, resilient, yet refined architectural language.

Materiality & Craftsmanship

Nevogilde House showcases the beauty of handcrafted solid brick, celebrated both as a structural and aesthetic element. The brick’s versatility allowed the architects and clients to experiment with layouts, patterns, and orientations—90° or 45°, running-bond or herringbone—creating walls, floors, and multifunctional furniture that bring a playful, tangible quality to the home. This material choice also recalls the client’s personal experiences in Central Europe, blending memory and modernity in a unique residential design.

Integration with Nature & Surroundings

The home’s design reorients the family’s daily life toward the garden, away from the noisy northern square. Views from the attic extend toward the sea and Porto’s City Park, creating a contemplative connection with the broader landscape. By balancing privacy, solar exposure, and visual engagement with the environment, the project achieves a sustainable, family-focused, and contextually sensitive architecture.

Nevogilde House demonstrates how thoughtful design, material innovation, and spatial fluidity can transform a traditional site into a modern, resilient, and emotionally engaging family home.