Manuel Graça Dias and Egan José Vieira’s 13 Round Houses at Bom Sucesso
Designed by Manuel Graça Dias and Egas Vieira, the 13 Round Houses at Bom Sucesso present a bold and innovative approach to residential architecture. Located at the bottom of Phase 2, on Rua da Lagoa, these T3/T4 villas were intended to offer privacy, individuality, and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape. However, only four were partially built, while nine remain unbuilt.

A Unique Circular Design
Inspired by the primordial concept of the home as a shelter, the architects sought to merge a simple L-shaped layout with a circular form, creating a harmonious balance between structure and fluidity. As Dias and Vieira explain:

“This type of innovative construction lies in the desire for individuality and privacy. We planned to ‘merge’ a simple L-shaped structure with a circle, whereby the required functions could be easily integrated. The circle is the most independent of all shapes. Two circles lying next to each other only have one point of contact.”

This circular arrangement defines the architecture of the houses, enclosing the central courtyard, which acts as both a visual and functional core. The open floor plan places living spaces in one section and private quarters in another, ensuring a natural flow of movement and light.

Blending Privacy with Open Views
These houses were designed to be both open and protected, addressing the need for seclusion within a resort setting. Instead of traditional walls separating properties, the architects planned natural vegetation as dividers, maintaining a seamless integration with the landscape.

Large windows and vertical brise-soleils filter light while ensuring privacy.
Flat green roofs were introduced to enhance integration with the landscape, while some homes were designed to have elevated pools, allowing for views over the Óbidos Lagoon.
The central courtyard connects to an upper terrace, featuring a solarium and pool, with skylights filtering water reflections into lower-level living areas.
As Graça Dias and Vieira state:

“Very concentrated, based on the egocentric circular shapes in which they are inscribed, these two variants are based on the terrain in such a way that the different visual alignments escape between the neighboring buildings, freeing up all the remaining open space around them for an autonomous landscaping treatment.”

An Architectural Statement Yet to be Completed
Despite its visionary concept, the Round Houses remain largely unfinished, leaving many of their spatial and design intentions unrealized. However, their inclusion in architectural publications, such as Arquitectos Portugueses Série 2 and A Casa de Quem Faz as Casas (No. 6 on Manuel Graça Dias), highlights their significance in contemporary Portuguese architecture.

Even in their incomplete state, these villas represent a radical approach to residential living, showcasing the philosophy of enclosure, openness, and natural integration that defined Dias and Vieira’s architectural legacy.