extrastudio suspends casa plaj above coastal slopes of portugal

Extrastudio suspends Casa Plaj above the coastal landscape

Extrastudio completes Casa Plaj, a 120-square-meter house in Portugal that responds to the architectural traditions of the region with a simple form that hovers above the ground.

Set into the sloping terrain of Lourinhã, a rural area an hour north of Lisbon known for fruit orchards and its proximity to the surf towns of Ericeira and Peniche, the holiday retreat is centered by a cruciform podium supported by four load-bearing walls, forming an elevated base that touches the terrain only once to allow entry. From here, terraces project in all directions, extending the interior into private outdoor refuges and creating the impression that the home floats above the landscape.

all images by Clemens Poloczek, unless stated otherwise

framing Light and Ocean Views

Within the compact plan of Casa Plaj, the Lisbon-based architects of Extrastudio organize the kitchen, dining, and living areas as a generous central space that opens symmetrically to three sides, while bedrooms face south toward the ocean. A void carved into the solid volume forms an open-air courtyard entrance, concealed behind a sliding gate.

To counter the limits of the restricted footprint, the team exploits height and light. A large skylight makes the living room feel larger, while a series of precisely positioned oculi channels daylight deep into the house. During four months each year, beams of sun trace across every room before sunset, reaching their most dramatic intensity at the solstices. 

Extrastudio completes Casa Plaj

A Portuguese Home Shaped by Collaboration and Landscape

Close collaboration between Extrastudio, clients, and builders during construction allowed unexpected interventions, including grey plastered walls left bare, niches and portholes added, a steel door replaced with red glass, and stone finishes selected to resonate with the muted palette. The house’s initially planned grey exterior gradually acquired color during the building process, reflecting the hands and decisions of those involved.

The surrounding landscape was treated with restraint. Wild pine trees frame a long swimming pool that runs parallel to the coastline, while fruit trees were planted in grid formation on the slopes to preserve the agricultural character of the site. From inside, with windows that slide fully into the walls, daily life can extend outdoors as the horizon opens in all directions. After completion, the clients invited Extrastudio to experience the house firsthand, where the architecture gave way to the sounds of nature from a nearby creek, grounding the project in the atmosphere of the Portuguese coast.

this 120-square-meter house in Portugal responds to the architectural traditions of the region

a radically simple form that hovers lightly above the ground

the holiday retreat is centered by a cruciform podium supported by four load-bearing walls