The Wall House on Portuguese Riviera by Guedes Cruz Arquitectos.

In an area dubbed the Portuguese Riviera, the coastal town of Cascais is where one can find The Wall House, a knockout 1,100 square metre home designed by José Guedes Cruz, César Marques and Marco Marinho of Guedes Cruz Arquitectos.

According to the architects, the house was built “like a wall in a Castle not in stone, but in concrete, glass and wood, not only for protection but because of the neighbours and the strong Atlantic Winds.”

Anchored around a large courtyard that seamlessly connects the luxury villa’s indoor and outdoor spaces, one side of the property has an expansive glass wall that can be opened for a direct connection between the interiors and the surrounding greenery and Oitavos Dunes Golf Course. Timber slat that attach to the concrete exterior structure act as elegant privacy mechanisms.

There are many arresting features within this home set on an expansive 2,290 square metre plot of land, although the pair of large swimming pools that spread across two levels and overlap each other is undeniably the hero of the building. With the first one located on the ground and the second one positioned perpendicular to the first on the upper level, the feeling of being in the top pool creates a unique sensation of swimming in the air.

Guedes Cruz Arquitectos fitted the upper pool with a glass bottom, creating a surreal visual effect, where swimmers above can look down at those in the pool below, and vice versa.

And let’s not forget the luscious interior garden wrapping down and around the dramatic spiral stair connecting all the levels. Full height frameless glass wall allows views into the garage, complete with a green vintage Porsche. Nice.

The Wall House’s bold and ultra-modern design brings together elements of water, air, nature and light, resulting in an architecture that’s delicious, visually arresting and bucket-list worthy.