Flight of Birds House at Rabo de Peixe, Portugal by Bernardo Rodrigues Architects.

By: Bernardo Rodrigues Architects
Client: Pedro Correia and Graça Rodrigues
Project Leader: James Grainger and Nelson Ferreira
Status: Build
Collaborators:
Pedro Mosca
Natacha Viveiros
Execution:
Ye Xuanyong
Vasco Melo
Laura von Dellemann
Alexandra Balona
Adriana Massague
Rita Breda
Ana Soares
Jessica Silva
Sofia Cordeiro
Raquel Fernandes
Elena Archipovait
Marcello Zahr
Engineering: HDP Paulo Fidalgo
Tender: Ana Fortuna
Builder: Couto & Couto
Photography:
Iwan Baan
Fernando Guerra FG+SG

The exterior has glass walls to showcase the view outside and accent lighting giving the house a dramatic effect.
The exterior has glass walls to showcase the view outside and accent lighting giving the house a dramatic effect.
The house has an open entrance lit with skylight, leading to a covered patio of the house.
The house has an open entrance lit with skylight, leading to a covered patio of the house.
The living room is enclosed with glass walls that overlooks the wing of the house.
The living room is enclosed with glass walls that overlooks the wing of the house.
The glass walls and the staircase leading to the upper floors.
The glass walls and the staircase leading to the upper floors.
The living room sits next to the dining area and the stairs that lead to the upper floor.
The living room sits next to the dining area and the stairs that lead to the upper floor.
The house features a unique window seat that showcases the view outside.
The house features a unique window seat that showcases the view outside.
A man standing on the top floor of the house at night.
A man standing on the top floor of the house at night.
The top floor of the house is an open space, that showcases the view of the surroundings.
The top floor of the house is an open space, that showcases the view of the surroundings.
The top floor has a concrete finish to the deck, perfect for relaxation and viewing the scenery.
The top floor has a concrete finish to the deck, perfect for relaxation and viewing the scenery.
View of the top floor and the surrounding mountain ranges.
View of the top floor and the surrounding mountain ranges.
At night the house is lit with accent lighting and outdoor lights.
At night the house is lit with accent lighting and outdoor lights.
The view of the house at night showcases its distinct color.
The view of the house at night showcases its distinct color.
Floor plan of the ground floor.
Floor plan of the ground floor.
Floor plan of the upper floor.
Floor plan of the upper floor.
Cross section aa of the house.
Cross section aa of the house.

The home is on S. Michael Island in the Azores, on the north side. The first architectural idea was to block the wind with a wall and provide a variety of patios and covered courtyards to protect against rain, given the microclimate of this farmland.

A transient look, like a childhood recollection that pops up out of nowhere. Planetary wisdom, the sun in the south, the wind and the cold in the north.

I recall a peasant who, every day after harvesting, lies down on the ground and fantasizes about the sea and all the fish (churn).

“Matter instructs space on how to bend, and space instructs matter on how to move.” — Einstein, Albert

There are individual rooms on the upper floor that are more enclosed and sheltered. The typology is based on a Palladian and Scamozzi core plan, with a double-height living room and two lateral wings enclosing one of the kitchens.

The house also has high chimneys from popular residential architecture, a covered indoor patio, and circulation for the first floor and to the roof terrace in the other wing. Light entrances from the south end these two wings. The roof provides a spectacular view of the island’s north shore.

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