Orca House by dbA. arquitectura – A Contemporary Reinvention of Vernacular Heritage in Portugal

Located in the serene rural landscape of Orca, Portugal, Orca House by dbA. arquitectura (lead architects Alexandra Belo and Vitor Mingacho) is a masterful reinterpretation of a traditional granite dwelling. Spanning 150 m² and completed in 2025, the project carefully balances heritage preservation with modern architectural innovation, creating a home that harmonizes with its natural surroundings while offering contemporary comfort and sustainability.

Set on a gentle slope descending toward a natural stream, the house engages directly with the landscape, embracing lush vegetation and panoramic views along its Southeast façade. The design preserves the original granite masonry walls while adding a new upper volume, transforming the traditional gabled roof into a single-pitch roof. This change not only enhances the interior ceiling height but also allows for a clear and elegant reading of the building’s new form.

The material palette is deliberately restrained, highlighting whites on walls, pergolas, and window frames to contrast with the natural textures of wood and stone. Pergolas on both façades serve functional and spatial purposes, providing a carport to the Northwest and shaded outdoor living areas to the Southeast.

Inside, wood plays a central role, shaping a warm, tactile environment. Pine clads the interior walls, three-layer softwood panels define custom furniture and the staircase, and oak flooring elevates the upper level, creating a sophisticated interplay of textures and finishes. The spatial layout emphasizes fluid circulation, with a clear axis connecting the Northwest entrance to the Southeast terrace and outdoor dining spaces, anchored by a striking double-height stair volume at the heart of the house.

The open-plan ground floor integrates kitchen, dining, living, and work areas seamlessly, centered around a wood-burning stove that enhances warmth and comfort. Sustainability was a guiding principle throughout the project: the extension is constructed with hempcrete blocks coated in hydraulic lime plaster, a low-impact, biobased material offering excellent thermal and acoustic performance, fire resistance, and long-term durability.