Nestled on a hill amongst wild thyme and rosemary in the picturesque landscape of the Algarve coast, this energy-efficient house was built for a retired German couple in 2019/20. Following CORE Architect’s signature detailed bioclimatic study, which we carry out to identify the prevailing winds and maximum solar impact, our team set about creating a design that would transform the terrain into an oasis of wellbeing over two floors, providing a comfortable, modern pad for the couple. Applying Passive House principles, CORE also made use of environmentally friendly building materials, such as clay plaster and cork insulation, cutting down on the building's carbon footprint and the toxicity to which the couple would be exposed. The design required the house to be set into a steep slope, with the surrounding garden adapted around it. Open façades looking out over panoramic views of the sea to south was designed to sport large, double-glazed windows with built-in sun protection to allow natural light to flow in to the house.Working with and within nature, which means every project is carefully designed to perform the most effectively and and efficiently within its specific surroundings.
