Contemporary Portuguese Fisherman’s Cabin

WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS  Ivo Tavares Studio

Smart design by architect Pedro Henrique puts a contemporary spin on the historical “Palheiro”, a traditional Portuguese fisherman home.

Set in the northern coastal town of Esmoriz, the dwellings were first developed in the early 19th century to provide seaside housing for inhabitants working at sea.

Pedro pays homage to the vernacular architecture of the original designs in his reinterpretation of these houses that have scattered the shoreline for centuries. Using concrete as the core of the home, the traditional use of wood is brought into the design by using timber slats that cover the building facades. Marrying form and function, the slats also create a lightweight screening, creating shade and enhancing privacy for residents. At night, the slats create a glowing effect emitting from inside the house, radiating light outwards through the vertical gaps.

A raised ramp is reminiscent of the coastal boardwalks that snake around the perimeter of the beaches, paying both homage to the local architecture and repeats in the design of terraces around the home. This also gives an indoor/outdoor flow, separated by sliding glass doors and wooden slatted shutters.

The key feature of the interiors would be the sculptural staircase, a statement build which functions both as a means to get upstairs while creating more space and unity with the downstairs of the home, dividing the open plan bottom floor with a visually striking piece that serves a functional purpose.

Downstairs houses the communal and social areas – designed specifically for interaction and entertaining, with expansive views of the surrounding environment as a backdrop. The master bedroom, a compact kitchen and washroom also reside downstairs, with the lounge and another bedroom built upstairs.

The garden features indigenous plants, reeds and grasses, which can withstand the sandy soil and work in conjunction with the overall aesthetic of the seaside home.

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