Designed by João Álvaro Rocha, a leading figure of the Porto School, the houses at Quinta da Barca reflect the school’s defining values of clarity, restraint, and respect for place. Built between 1995 and 2001, the project reinterprets the former riverside estate as a series of enclosed courtyards — private yet connected spaces that balance individuality and collective order. Stone-clad exteriors and white interior patios create a dialogue between protection and openness, weight and light. Set beside a 9-hole golf course and a private marina with access to the Cávado River and the Atlantic, the ensemble embodies Rocha’s quiet, disciplined approach to architecture rooted in light, material, and landscape.