Soltróia House by João Tiago Aguiar, Arquitectos

Located in the coastal landscape of Soltróia, Portugal, Soltróia House is a comprehensive residential renovation that transforms an outdated seaside villa into a contemporary family retreat defined by light, clarity, and spatial fluidity. Designed by João Tiago Aguiar, Arquitectos, the project responds to the needs of a large family with five children while embracing the site’s exceptional proximity to the beach and expansive views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado River.

Originally characterized by yellow façades, dark green shutters, and a fragmented interior layout, the existing four-storey villa lacked both aesthetic coherence and functional efficiency. Despite its generous size and privileged location, the house failed to take advantage of natural light and sea views, particularly on the underused top floor. The renovation set out to redefine the home through a contemporary architectural language, prioritizing comfort, durability, and easy maintenance, essential qualities for an active coastal family residence.

The exterior transformation is one of the project’s most striking interventions. The original façades were replaced with an all-white composition that reinforces the villa’s modern identity and reflects the intense coastal light. A white lacquered aluminium slatted skin wraps much of the building, unifying façades, railings, and louvers into a single architectural system. This continuous envelope enhances privacy, solar control, and visual consistency, while reinforcing the house’s clean-lined, minimalist character.

Inside, the renovation focused on improving spatial flow and visual permeability. The original concrete staircase, bulky and visually obstructive, was removed and replaced with a sculptural metallic spiral staircase. This intervention became a central architectural element, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the house while creating a sense of openness across all levels. By eliminating unnecessary protrusions and recesses, the stairwell was transformed into a vertical light well that connects the home’s four floors seamlessly.

The interior layout was carefully reconfigured to support contemporary family living. On the first floor, the original four en-suite bedrooms were reorganized to improve circulation and maximize views. Living spaces were repositioned to face the surrounding landscape, ensuring constant visual contact with the sea and river. Large French windows were introduced throughout the house, flooding interiors with natural light and strengthening the relationship between indoor spaces and the coastal environment.

One of the most significant spatial upgrades occurred on the top floor. Previously limited to a small solarium dominated by the stair core, this level was expanded and reprogrammed into a fully functional living space with panoramic views. The intervention not only increased usable floor area but also unlocked the villa’s most privileged vantage point, transforming it into a key social and contemplative space within the house.

Additional architectural refinements include the introduction of a new guest toilet and a small balcony positioned above the garage entrance and basement access. This balcony improves circulation around the building while clearly separating pedestrian and vehicular movement, enhancing both functionality and safety.

Overall, Soltróia House exemplifies a thoughtful approach to residential renovation, where architectural clarity, material restraint, and spatial intelligence converge. By combining modern aesthetics with practical solutions and maximizing natural light, the project successfully transforms a dated structure into a light-filled, durable, and elegant coastal home that fully embraces its exceptional setting.

All photographs are works of  Francisco Nogueira