More than architecture: a building, light installation and a man-made piece of landscape

Aires Mateus has the gift of being able to capture the underlying essence of a piece of land. This house, like many more that he’s built, looks like it’s been on that hill forever.

The landscape both completes the building and is completed by it.

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (front)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (back)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (dawn)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (birds-eye, night)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (side)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (side)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (back)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (birds-eye)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (top)

Aires Mateus – House in Fontinha | View (night)

It is not just about the shape and volume, either. The house in Fontinha relates to the outside world through a set of architectural elements, creating different degrees of exposition to the elements. From the skylight, to windows framing specific views, to the patio.

Here is one more for Aires Mateus’ collection of buildings in amazing settings.

All of them connect with nature at a deep level, through a kind of purity in their volumes, an underlying relationship with the archetypal dwelling or the use of materials.

“Furnas” Monitoring and Investigation Centre – Aires Mateus

Casa na Areia – Aires Mateus