C&S Villa | Third Skin Architecture by Joel Rosa

To take advantage of the beautiful sea views, we imagined the distinctive Y-shape of the house, which creates three wings, each glazed on both sides. There’s a wing for living and study; one for cooking and eating; and one for the master bedroom.

The homeowners wanted the best view to be from the dining room, which is pointing to Berlengas' island. Next to the dining room an open kitchen easily accommodates friends and family, bridging the two sides of the house as its central point. “We find that visitors to our house almost always end up in the dining room/kitchen area, almost as if it exerts a gravitational pull,” Caroline says. The living area face West and South, providing views of both the rugged terrain and the vast ocean.

The building is structured to strategically shield the south areas from the northwest winds. The homeowners can stand in the pool or have a glass of wine on the terrace with friends without feeling like they’re going to blow away.