Designed by local studio Mário Martins Atelier for clients looking for their permanent home, Casa Libre sits on a hillside overlooking Portugal’s Lagos Bay. Its name —Casa for house and Libre for freedom— perfectly captures the spirit of lightness, transparency, and spatial awareness that radiates from the new build.
Casa Libre boasts a dual character, offering intimate privacy and expansive openness. At its core, a central patio separates the bedrooms to the east and the living and dining area to the south, where glazed windows frame the views of sea and sky. An outdoor deck and a long swimming pool stretch along the front, an inviting outdoor space for contemplation or entertaining. The roof is accessible and connects residents to the surrounding garden, which is intended to be simple and natural, evolving with the seasons.
The architecture balances heaviness and lightness, swinging from the weighty concrete to the wide, loose canopy whose peak partially cantilevers over the outdoor deck. Its contemporary and restrained design exudes a Mediterranean ambience and architectural style that identifies with the region.
The use of natural and recyclable local materials, alongside sustainable features such as solar and photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, and drainage systems for storage and reuse of rainwater, are thoughtful additions that help minimise the home’s environmental impact. Casa Libre is, as Mário Martins Atelier aptly puts it, “the result of creative freedom in search for new and improved solutions, while respecting people and place.”
Photography © Fernando Guerra / FG+SG architectural photography