Portugal Modern is proud to share a look into an interesting residential projects at Bom Sucesso Resort. Architect Nuno Brandão Costa has generously granted us access to early photographs, architectural drawings, and documentation of the houses before they were inhabited — offering a rare glimpse into the clarity and intention of the original design.

Located along Rua da Lagoa in Bom Sucesso, Óbidos, this project consists of seven T4 villas designed 2005. Of the seven, four were completed and built; two remain unbuilt, giving the site a quiet, unfinished rhythm that echoes the broader experimental nature of the resort.

From the outside, the houses appear as floating, horizontal slabs — green roof gardens that seem to hover above the land. Beneath these planted stone roofs lie the living and functional spaces, carefully separated yet architecturally unified. The patios in front of the bedrooms open onto the roof gardens, creating a seamless link between interior and landscape.

Inside, each house is organized around a simple, open floor plan. Living rooms stretch toward views of the golf course and the nearby pond, angled to catch light and sightlines. A continuous window band, precisely 1.60 meters high, frames the landscape throughout the interior, ensuring that the outside is never far from view.

At the entrance, a staircase leads directly to the rooftop — inviting residents to ascend and experience the full breadth of the valley. As the architect puts it, these are “seven squared bowls to garden,” designed with just enough thickness to shelter life within.

This project is a quiet but powerful example of Portuguese contemporary architecture — a blend of rigor, restraint, and spatial generosity that reflects Nuno Brandão Costa’s signature approach. We are honored to feature it on Portugal Modern and look forward to sharing more images and plans from the archive soon.

Copyrights of all Images by Arménio Teixeira and Nuno Brandão Costa

Interview with Nuno Brandão Costa – Get to Know His Work and Vision