Okay, here’s a sarcastic blog post based on the provided text. I’ve stripped away the unnecessary details and focused on the core message:
**Casa Plaj: A Portugean Holiday Home for a Simple, Free, and Slightly Quirky Life**
Ah, Casa Plaj! A minimalist gabled form, cantilevered terraces, and earth-toned lime plaster define this Portuguese holiday home, a charmingly simple structure designed by local practice Extrastudio. It’s a statement piece, a testament to the beauty of local design and the inherent freedom of the Portuguese landscape.
The house is a haven of rustic charm, offering a glimpse into the heart of Portugal’s rural charm. The exterior is a testament to the careful planning and attention to detail that went into creating this unique space. From the sun-drenched terraces to the lush greenery hanging from the walls, the house feels like a place where you can truly relax and reconnect with nature.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Casa Plaj offers a degree of flexibility. The open-plan living area, with its large, south-facing terrace, is perfect for enjoying the sunshine and the breathtaking views. The kitchen, cleverly integrated into the house, provides a workspace for preparing meals and enjoying the fresh air.
The interior is a testament to the simplicity of the design. The rough-hewn plaster walls and the smooth concrete floors offer a calming and inviting atmosphere. The use of natural materials like lime and terracotta adds a touch of warmth and texture to the space.
The house is more than just a dwelling; it’s a symbol of a life lived in harmony with nature. It’s a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find a sense of tranquility and freedom. It’s a reminder that even in the most rural landscapes, there’s always room for creativity and a little bit of unexpected charm.
Casa Plaj is a statement piece that celebrates the beauty of Portuguese design and the simple pleasures of life. It’s a place where you can truly find peace and escape the demands of modern life. Whether you’re seeking a tranquil escape or a vibrant community, Casa Plaj is sure to leave a lasting impression.
A minimalist gabled form, cantilevered terraces and earth-toned lime plaster define Casa Plaj, a holiday home in Portugal designed by local practice Extrastudio.
Located near a coastal village in Portugal’s Lourinhã region, the 120-square-metre home is described by the studio as a “radically simple” structure that draws on the area’s rural architecture.
Lisbon-based Extrastudio raised Casa Plaj on four load-bearing concrete walls, allowing the surrounding landscape to flow beneath its overhanging terraces, and finished it with a purposefully rough layer of earth-toned plaster.
“Lourinhã has never been a wealthy area; buildings are modest and simple, and sit naturally in the landscape, in a way that has somehow been forgotten by buildings from recent decades,” said the studio.
”We wanted to make a radically simple form for this house, combining elements used in historic local buildings in a way that is only possible in the present,” added Extrastudio.
“Free from daily obligations, a holiday house allows a certain level of freedom and experimentation. It should be generous, informal, physically present, imposing its own time and pace.”
Above the concrete podium, which incorporates an access stair, Casa Plaj is organised across a single level, with a living, dining and kitchen area to the south and three bedrooms to the north.
Flanking an entrance courtyard, which is concealed behind a sliding gate of slatted timber, each of the bedrooms opens out onto a cantilevering side terrace via deep-set sliding glass doors.
The living area sits beneath a high, sloping ceiling punctured by an ocular skylight, with a suspended black-steel fireplace at its eastern end and a marble kitchen counter opposite.
This skylight aligns with a series of high, circular cut-outs in the home’s walls, the position of which was determined using 3D modelling to allow a beam of sunlight to illuminate each room before sunset.
Casa Plaj’s dining area opens out onto a dedicated cantilevering terrace, overlooking the sea in the distance as well as a long, narrow swimming pool in the home’s garden.
“Simple architectural devices enable and encourage flexibility and informality,” explained the studio.
“The windows recede completely into the walls, transforming the house into a large alfresco space, extending the indoors outdoors and allowing moments like bathing to become open-air experiences,” it added.
Inside, the rough materiality of the exterior has been carried through into grey plaster walls and angled ceilings with a similarly rough, uneven finish, complemented by smooth concrete floors.
Extrastudio was founded in Lisbon in 2003. Previous projects by the studio include the transformation of a winery in southern Portugal into a family home and a delicatessen with a decorative perforated ceiling.
The photography is by Clemens Poloczek.
A minimalist gabled form, cantilevered terraces and earth-toned lime plaster define Casa Plaj, a holiday home in Portugal designed by local practice Extrastudio.
Located near a coastal village in Portugal’s Lourinhã region, the 120-square-metre home is described by the studio as a “radically simple” structure that draws on the area’s rural architecture.
Lisbon-based Extrastudio raised Casa Plaj on four load-bearing concrete walls, allowing the surrounding landscape to flow beneath its overhanging terraces, and finished it with a purposefully rough layer of earth-toned plaster.
“Lourinhã has never been a wealthy area; buildings are modest and simple, and sit naturally in the landscape, in a way that has somehow been forgotten by buildings from recent decades,” said the studio.
“We wanted to make a radically simple form for this house, combining elements used in historic local buildings in a way that is only possible in the present,” added Extrastudio.
“Free from daily obligations, a holiday house allows a certain level of freedom and experimentation. It should be generous, informal, physically present, imposing its own time and pace.”
Above the concrete podium, which incorporates an access stair, Casa Plaj is organised across a single level, with a living, dining and kitchen area to the south and three bedrooms to the north.
Flanking an entrance courtyard, which is concealed behind a sliding gate of slatted timber, each of the bedrooms opens out onto a cantilevering side terrace via deep-set sliding glass doors.
The living area sits beneath a high, sloping ceiling punctured by an ocular skylight, with a suspended black-steel fireplace at its eastern end and a marble kitchen counter opposite.
This skylight aligns with a series of high, circular cut-outs in the home’s walls, the position of which was determined using 3D modelling to allow a beam of sunlight to illuminate each room before sunset.
Casa Plaj’s dining area opens out onto a dedicated cantilevering terrace, overlooking the sea in the distance as well as a long, narrow swimming pool in the home’s garden.
“Simple architectural devices enable and encourage flexibility and informality,” explained the studio.
“The windows recede completely into the walls, transforming the house into a large alfresco space, extending the indoors outdoors and allowing moments like bathing to become open-air experiences,” it added.
Inside, the rough materiality of the exterior has been carried through into grey plaster walls and angled ceilings with a similarly rough, uneven finish, complemented by smooth concrete floors.
Extrastudio was founded in Lisbon in 2003. Previous projects by the studio include the transformation of a winery in southern Portugal into a family home and a delicatessen with a decorative perforated ceiling.
The photography is by Clemens Poloczek.
