A subterranean retreat sculpted into the Alentejo landscape

Near the medieval village of Monsaraz, overlooking the Alqueva lake, Casa na Terra is a profound statement in land-integrated architecture. Designed by acclaimed Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus, the house seems to disappear into the terrain, evoking both ancient earthworks and futuristic forms. Its design merges silence and shelter, creating a dwelling that is at once monumental and invisible.

At the heart of the house lies a circular central dome, excavated from the hillside. This space acts as a natural gathering point, connecting the surrounding rooms with the outdoors through patios and framed openings. From a distance, only the dome and the minimal patio edges break the continuity of the landscape—a deliberate gesture to preserve the views and the serenity of the place.

The three en-suite bedrooms are anchored by their own intimate patios, drawing light deep into the structure. The open-plan kitchen and living area extend seamlessly toward a panoramic terrace, where sky and lake dominate the horizon. The architecture’s materiality—raw, tactile, grounded—reinforces its deep connection to the terrain.

Awarded ArchDaily’s Building of the Year in 2020, Casa na Terra embodies Aires Mateus’ meditative and sculptural approach to architecture: a radical simplicity that draws emotion from emptiness, form from subtraction, and presence from stillness.