Dream Houses is a curated exploration of domestic architecture where vision, craft, and innovation converge. Each residence is shaped by light, materiality, and intent revealing homes that transcend function to become expressions of a deeply personal yet enduring way of living.
Designed by atelier RUA, private residence in Galamares, Portugal, is distinguished by its soft pink-toned façade. Situated approximately half an hour from Lisbon, the house unfolds over two levels above ground plus a lower floor. Its spatial organization revolves around an internal courtyard, while a continuous perimeter terrace opens outward, capturing expansive views of the surrounding terrain.
Located approximately 30 minutes from Lisbon, with open views toward the Serra de Sintra, this single-family residence unfolds across 420 m², distributed over two above-ground levels and a basement.
The project is conceived as a compact, nearly square volume, from which the northern corner is carved along a diagonal defined by the site boundary.
At its core, a central courtyard organizes the ground floor, acting as the spatial and conceptual anchor around which the social and communal areas are arranged.
A pale pink color tone wraps the exterior in its entirety, consolidating the dwelling into a cohesive architectural presence amidst the surrounding vegetation.
Far from being merely ornamental, this chromatic layer tempers the perceived scale of the structure while amplifying the interplay of illumination and shade. As daylight changes, the building’s expression evolves subtly, maintaining a clear identity within its landscape setting.
Entry occurs at the southern corner, adjacent to the parking area, where a compact entrance hall opens directly onto the courtyard.
Circulation unfolds around this central yard, connecting the kitchen, living room, and dining area, conceived as a continuous open-plan sequence.
These spaces maintain a strong visual and spatial relationship with the courtyard, while their differentiation is articulated through structural elements such as the staircase and exposed beams.
At ground level, the house adopts an inward-facing configuration, prioritizing privacy through its orientation toward the courtyard. This introverted condition is interrupted at the northern diagonal corner by a generous opening that extends the interior toward the landscaped garden. This point also accommodates the main vertical circulation, linking all levels of the house.
The upper floor, organized in an L-shaped layout.
It accommodates four bedrooms arranged in pairs and oriented east and west, framing views across the surrounding landscape. The corner rooms extend outward onto a shared terrace.
Wrapping around the house and oriented to the east, south, and west, the terrace benefits from continuous sunlight and expansive views of the Serra de Sintra, including landmarks such as Pena Palace and Monserrate Palace.
Integrated seating and planted elements enhance its usability.
While a tubular steel pergola supports climbing vegetation and, together with timber shutters, introduces shade and spatial definition.
The basement follows the same L-shaped footprint as the upper level and opens onto two patios positioned to the east and west. These outdoor voids bring natural light and ventilation into the lower level, ensuring comfortable and fully habitable spaces below ground.
The project balances an inward-looking spatial organization with carefully framed outward connections, where geometry, light, and materiality converge to define a cohesive architectural identity.
Through the interplay of courtyard typology, landscape integration, and chromatic expression, the house establishes a measured dialogue between privacy and openness, solidity and atmosphere.
Plans
Facts & credits
Project title: Casa Galamares
Architecture: atelier RUA arquitectos
Design Team (atelier RUA): Francisco Freitas, Luís Valente, Paulo Borralho, Rui Didier, Ana Tomé, Sandra Imaz, Ana Carvalho, Fabrizia Della Penna, Cláudia Ribeiro, Marianna Angelucci
Project location: Galamares, Portugal
Construction date: 2022 – 2025
Construction Area: 420 m²
Landscape Architecture: Oficina dos Jardins – Sónia Caldeira, Inês Bordado
Engineering: Acribia Projetos de Engenharia
General Contractor: Sampir Engenharia
Photography: Francisco Nogueira
Construction Supervision: Ana Santos