Casa Reis Nunes, located in Paúl do Mar, Portugal, the steep terrain and Madeira’s characteristic stone walls define the intervention carried out in 2009. This approach, which integrates the land with paired stone walls, is one of the most emblematic features of the Madeiran landscape and proved to be the ideal solution for blending the new building into its surroundings.

The project involves a modest program: a small 66m² shelter consisting of a living room with kitchenette, a bathroom, and a bedroom. The goal was for the house to be nearly imperceptible, as if it were part of the existing stone walls. The architecture merges with the land’s structure, using local stone to seamlessly blend into the context. The house’s volume is aligned with the plot’s entrance, extending southward in a rectangle that connects to the northern wall.

Clad in local basalt stone, the house is punctuated only by windows that frame the sea view. The garden is designed to function on two levels, consistent with the terrain’s natural layout. The living room extends onto a 1.5-meter balcony, protected by a visor of the same size, which connects to the garden. This design represents a careful balance, both in how the house is perceived from the old neighborhood and in how the landscape is enjoyed from within.

From the outside, the house merges with the mountain escarpment, with its stone cladding linking it to the dominant material of the region, making it an integral part of the natural setting. This integration is enhanced by the use of paired basalt stone, which harmonizes the new volume with the existing walls. Upon entering the house, however, the old neighborhood fades from view, and the focus shifts to the sea, offering a contrast to the clandestine dwellings scattered around Paúl do Mar. Despite their irregular origins, these dwellings contribute to the neighborhood’s charm, with small cafés blending into local life amidst the lanes, alleys, and paths connecting the sea to the mountain.

Casa Reis Nunes emerged from the passion and vision of Dr. Reis Nunes, who shared his enthusiasm for the project. It is a place dear to me, not only because of its intimate relationship with the land but also because of the simplicity of its architecture. Once, while walking with my family, someone remarked that it seemed as though the house had been there for a long time. I took this as a compliment to the way architecture can naturally evolve from the characteristics of its location.