Portuguese architecture studio Trama Arquitetos has designed Cork Trees House, a concrete and Corten-steel clad home located on a slope above a grove of cork trees in Braga, Portugal.
The single-level house was built on a plot of land set above the centuries-old trees and Trama Arquitetos aimed for its design to connect with this surrounding nature.
Top and above: the house was built on the top of a steep slope
"First of all, we had decided that the house should be at the same level as the treetops, creating harmony by the idea of a floating garden on the horizon," Trama Arquitetos co-founder Bruno Leitão told Dezeen.
"In this context, we have designed a one-level architectural plan distinguished by a division between social and private areas," he continued. "The house was built following the restrictions of the land to preserve the cork trees and creating a view over this centenary little forest."
The home is topped with a concrete roof
The 450-square-metre house, which was designed for a young family, has a panoramic view of the nearby mountains and valleys.
The studio chose concrete, stone, wood and Corten steel as the main materials for the 3.5-metre-high building, as it believed these would be most compatible with the surrounding landscape.
An infinity pool sits at the back of the house
"We had decided that the house needed raw and natural materials that perfectly matched the landscape," Leitão said.
"For the exterior, ou...