13 December 2012
Designed by the architect Jorge Graça Costa a Ericeira, on the Atlantic coast just north of Lisbon, the U House takes its name from its shape. This area, which is a World Surfing Reserve, is one of the windiest places in Europe, with a cold wind from the north in the summer and a hot wind from the south in the winter. So the main requirement was to provide shelter from the biting wind all year round. The U-shaped plan, inspired by the Mediterranean tradition of patio houses, answers to the need for the house to have a view of the bay of São Lourenço from every side, with a space flanked by two long wings reaching out toward the sea and a third block linking them. The materials and installations of the rooms are chosen to be in keeping with the environment. (via Dezeen)
