CLIENT: QUINTA DO LOBO BRANCO

AREA: 900 SQM

LOCATION: PENAFIEL, PORTUGAL

DATE: 2013

STATUS: COMPLETED

ARCHITECTURE: FRANCISCO SALGADO RÉ, BRUNO ANDRÉ

AWARDS:
EU – MIES VAN DER ROHE 2015 AWARD NOMINEE
ARCHDAILY BUILDING OF THE YEAR FINALIST
BIGMAT INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD NOMINEE
CONSTRUIR AWARDS FINALIST


A holistic architectural intervention dedicated to physical and mental well-being, materialized through a spatial sequence designed for direct environmental and sensory engagement.

Rather than consolidating the functional brief within a single monolithic volume, the project employs a decentralized master plan strategy. The program is fragmented into a series of detached structural volumes distributed across the topography. This spatial dispersion minimizes the physical footprint on the site, preserving existing natural features and establishing an intermittent circulation network that integrates the built elements directly into the surrounding ecosystem.

The architectural intervention relies on pure, white geometric volumes that contrast with and highlight the organic terrain. The positioning of each building is calibrated to the natural contours and vegetation, optimizing orientation, daylighting, and visual isolation. The interplay of crisp solid planes, recessed fenestration, and surrounding foliage frames specific landscape views, fostering a contemplative spatial condition oriented toward quietude and retreat.

Movement across the complex is structured as a continuous transition between interior enclosures and outdoor pathways. By requiring occupants to traverse the landscape to access different programmatic nodes, the site design incorporates physical movement as an essential component of the spatial experience. The interior spaces utilize a minimal material palette and neutral finishes, prioritizing natural light penetration, spatial proportion, and acoustic reduction to support retreat and meditation activities.