SERENA HOUSE

Structure and lightness: Geometric grandeur in the heart of nature.
TYPE

Residential

LOCATION

Loulé

YEAR

2022

CONSTRUCTION AREA

495 m²

STATUS

Licensing Project

type

Residential

LOCATION

Loulé

status

Licensing Project

year

2022

CONSTRUCTION AREA

495 m²

A minimalist retreat that blends into the landscape, offering comfort and elegance in every detail.

The root of the project.

Serena is an architectural project that celebrates simplicity and functionality through a geometrically expressive yet restrained composition. Inspired by brutalist architecture, the residence adopts glass, concrete, wood, marble and metal as its primary materials, exploring the balance between structural solidity and an apparent sense of weightlessness.

Robust forms and a carefully curated material palette draw references from Swedish brutalism and post-modernism, resulting in an architectural language that is both rigorous and playful. The outcome is a refined design where each gesture invites contemplation, exploration and a sensory connection with space.

The project is organised around a simple central volume, developed through overlapping levels that establish a strong presence within the landscape. Platforms at varying heights enable an intimate relationship with private outdoor areas, while the main entrance, defined by generous glass panels, promotes a continuous dialogue between interior and exterior. Metal elements and Italian burl veneer finishes introduce contrast and sophistication, elevating the material expression of the whole.

Given its setting, access to the rooftop plays a fundamental role in the experience of the house. The roof terrace becomes an extension of the social areas, incorporating a swimming pool, barbecue zone and outdoor living spaces, protected by glass balustrades that preserve visual lightness and openness to the surroundings.

Inside, each space has been carefully designed to meet contemporary needs for comfort and well-being. From the master suite to leisure areas such as the spa and gym/games room, every environment reflects a balance between functionality, elegance and permanence. The use of regional materials, such as granite, reinforces the identity of the place and ensures harmonious integration with the surrounding landscape. Serena stands as an expression of a timeless architectural vision, enriching both the site and its broader context.

PHOTO CREDITS
3D IMAGES
Rigour as language.
Light as matter.
Manner as truth.
Architecture... as purpose.
Transform intention into architecture.
Rigour as language.
Light as matter.
Manner as truth.
Architecture... as purpose.
Transform intention into architecture.
2025 © PHOCUS Architects