This top-heavy house sits in the village of Aldeia de Juso in Portugal. The house was designed by ARX Portugal and Stefano Riva. Named House in Juso, the concept for this project was to expand the available outdoor space and create three interrelated floors. The ground level holds the living and dining rooms, which are surrounded by glass walls. These rooms open to the garden and swimming pool area. The second story contains the bedrooms and the third story boasts an elegant, rooftop deck. On the upper floors, a rectangular concrete shell wraps around the building to create enclosed openings on all three levels.

I love the form of this house. The architects proposed a simple and effective solution for maximizing outdoor space. The ground floor is light and holds only the necessary areas, allowing for a lovely outdoor space. The upper floors also increase outdoor living by creating a set of rooftop decks and lounge areas. I love how the concrete shell encloses these areas to create privacy and give the house a strong sense of cohesiveness. Overall, this is a lovely project that uses minimal forms to create a beautiful living environment.