PORTUGAL MODERN

Casa Modesta is a family home turned rural retreat, carefully designed to embody the slow rhythms of the Algarve landscape. Located in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, near Olhão, the house was renovated and extended by architect Pablo Pita for his own family. Its architecture is both humble and poetic—celebrating vernacular traditions while adding refined, contemporary elements.

Thick whitewashed walls, shaded verandas, and a rhythmic sequence of outdoor courtyards offer protection from the sun and create natural ventilation, drawing on centuries-old regional techniques. Modern details, such as exposed concrete lintels, frameless windows, and sculptural furniture, bring a minimal elegance that contrasts gently with the rustic textures of brick, lime, and wood.

Casa Modesta stands as a sensitive example of rural hospitality architecture—rooted in place, memory, and material honesty. It invites guests to experience the Algarve not just as a destination, but as a way of life.