Aldeia do Meco is a village located in the southern part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. Its proximity to the beaches has led to a rapid transformation over the last four decades. Once a rural village characterized by low-rise traditional buildings, it has gradually evolved into a seaside holiday destination. This transformation was reflected in the construction of out-of-scale buildings during the early 1980s. Casa no Meco is a single-family house located adjacent to these buildings, and their imposing presence informed the design of the new project.

The owner's wishes were clear: to replace the original house in which he grew up with a similar one, strategically positioned to avoid direct exposure to neighbouring properties. The proposal consists of a simple volume with a pitched roof that follows the longitudinal shape of the plot while maintaining a strong connection to the village’s identity.

Programmatically, the project is divided into two distinct zones. On the northern side are the service spaces – bathrooms, closets, circulation areas and kitchen – whose façades are punctuated by small openings to ensure privacy from the access road. To the south, the main living spaces – living room, office and bedrooms – gradually open onto the garden through large windows that blur the boundaries between interior and exterior, covered and uncovered spaces.

The materials and construction solutions employed in the project are respectful of local traditions, establishing a strong connection with the village’s original buildings. White plastered exterior walls and the pitch of the tiled roof recall familiar images of Mediterranean villages. Inside, the balance between the materials – handmade cement tiles and wood flooring – strategically enhances the natural light, distinguishing private areas from spaces intended for everyday communal life.

Between the street and the new house, a "stone line" has been developed to unify the entire complex and connect the parking area to a vertical technical volume. This small addition, which clearly alludes to the original oven house, plays a complementary role within the ensemble and accommodates the outdoor kitchen with its barbecue, technical equipment and garden storage.

Through a contemporary approach based on subtraction, the project mitigates the impact of its undesirable surroundings while taking full advantage of its privileged solar exposure. Inside, the manipulation of varying ceiling heights gradually creates moments of tension and release, reinforcing the hierarchy and importance of each space.