Cork Trees House

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

CORK TREES HOUSE

TRAMA arquitetos

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Bruno Leitão, Marco Bernardino

DESIGN TEAM
Adriano Peixoto, Ricardo Silva, Eduarda Rocha, Helena Vilar, Catarina Silva, Ivo Silva

PHOTOGRAPHS
João Morgado

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Braga, Portugal

CATEGORY
Houses, House Interiors

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

We were approached by a young family, who has a close relationship with architecture, to develop a project that materialized the DNA of Trama Arquitetos.

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

Furthermore, in addition to a harmonious design, the project should focus on the space details.

The intention was to surprise, to integrate the exterior surroundings with the interior environment, to merge spaces and create sensations, without discouraging functionality.

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

The name of the house reflects the fundamental role that the native vegetation played during the project development.

The terrain, on a steep slope, is composed of a grove of centuries-old cork oak trees, located on the lowest level.

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

In this context, the house was designed to enjoy the best sun exposure and also the open views over the mountains and valleys of the region.

We started from the idea that the floor of the house should be in line with the canopy of cork trees, as if it were a garden that floats on the horizon.

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

Therefore, we designed a functional single-floor plan, occupying almost the entire width of the plot.

As for materiality, we associated raw and natural materials that would merge with the surroundings. We started from concrete, stone, wood and steel.

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado

Outside, the exposed concrete merges subtly with natural shale and corten steel oxidized by time. Inside, walnut wood provides comfort and a chromatic relationship with the roman travertine marble on the floor and the apparent concrete of the ceiling.

As a result, we achieved a project that is harmonious with the surrounding environment and is intended to be timeless.

Cork Trees House
© João Morgado


Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado


Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado


Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado
Cork Trees House
© João Morgado