Portugal is home to some of the world’s most respected architects — and now, a few of their rarest homes are on the market. This curated selection features villas by Álvaro Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Oscar Niemeyer, Alcino Soutinho, and Hélder Ventura & Helena Máximo — each with a distinct voice and vision. These homes are more than luxury real estate. They are pieces of design history.
1. Álvaro Siza Vieira’s Early Masterpiece – Matosinhos (Porto)
T5+, 1.599.000 €
Image by Ben (above) and Million Group (below)
This villa is one of Álvaro Siza Vieira’s earliest residential projects — designed when he was just 32 — and later renovated by the architect himself. Built for a writer, the house blends intimacy with urban elegance. It sits quietly on a corner plot in Matosinhos, using clever design gestures like a sunken patio and minimal window openings to balance privacy and light.
What makes this house truly special is its interior, carefully crafted by Siza with custom-designed furniture and fittings. It reflects his philosophy of designing not just buildings, but complete environments. Renovated over five years in the 1990s, the home remains one of the most personal expressions of Siza’s architectural thinking.
Villa listed at Portugal Modern here.
2. Álvaro Siza Vieira Villa on Avenida da Boavista – Porto
T5, 418 m² + 298 m² outdoor area, 2.750.000 €
Image by Ben
Located on Porto’s most prestigious avenue, this signature residence by Pritzker Prize–winner Álvaro Siza Vieira is a rare opportunity to own a liveable work of architecture. One of a set of four symmetrical houses, the project reflects Siza’s refined modernist approach: clean lines, sculpted light, and seamless transitions between interior and exterior.
Spread over three levels, the home features generous open-plan living spaces, a private garden with pool and rooftop terrace, and high-end materials like Estremoz marble and solid wood. A central elevator connects all floors, while thoughtful orientation and glazing maximize light and privacy.
This villa embodies Siza’s vision of timeless architecture — understated, elegant, and perfectly integrated with its urban context.
Listed at Portugal Modern here.
3. Alcino Soutinho’s Casa Pinto de Sousa – Ofir (Esposende)
T4, 2.000 m² land, 1.500.000 €
Designed by Alcino Soutinho — one of Portugal’s great postmodern architects — this villa was built for a close friend, a professional rugby player. It sits within a pine forest near the coast of Ofir, completely integrated into nature. The architecture is rich in references: Roman impluviums, Baroque geometry, and even a north façade that evokes an Arabic aqueduct.
But this isn’t just a house full of ideas. It’s a deeply livable home with bright spaces, a double-height living core, and careful transitions between public and private areas. The layering of spaces across split levels gives the villa a quiet complexity — the kind that reveals itself over time. A true hidden classic of Portuguese architecture, rarely on the market.
4. Oscar Niemeyer’s Only House in Portugal mainland – Melgaço
T2+, 10.000 m² land, 750.000 €
This house is one-of-a-kind: the only known residence in Portugal designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Brazilian master of modernist architecture and Pritzker Prize winner. Commissioned in the 1950s by a Portuguese emigrant who became Niemeyer’s friend in Rio de Janeiro, the home is full of artistic details — from curved walls to a mural by Nuno San-Payo, and hand-painted Viana tiles.It has not been lived in since the late 1990s and needs serious renovation, but the essence is there: sweeping views, bold geometry, and an approved rural tourism recovery project. For lovers of modernist heritage, this is a chance to restore and own a true architectural sculpture by one of the 20th century’s most iconic designers. See video blow.
5. Souto de Moura’s Villa at Ponte de Lima Golf Resort
T4, 1.100 m² plot, 990.000 €
Image from fontedamoura.com
This bright and refined villa by Eduardo Souto de Moura, Portugal’s second Pritzker laureate, is a prime example of his quiet but powerful architectural language. Located inside the Ponte de Lima Golf Resort, it’s a home of clean lines, smart proportions, and calm elegance. Floor-to-ceiling windows open to landscaped gardens and a private pool with views of the golf course.
Inside, the space is organized with clarity and precision — a signature of Souto de Moura’s work. Every material is carefully chosen, from the self-leveling floor system to the Siemens kitchen appliances. It’s a livable home for today, but with the timeless quality of one of Europe’s great architects.
6. Eduardo Souto de Moura’s Urban Oasis in Porto – Antas
T4, 355 m² land, 1.600.000 €
In the heart of Porto’s Antas neighborhood, just steps from Praça Velasquez, this extraordinary villa is part of an exclusive gated condominium designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. Completed in 2021, the project merges the renovation of romantic 19th-century mansions with new contemporary architecture, forming a unique urban village set within 15,500 m² of landscaped grounds.
The V4 villa spans two floors and offers elegant interiors with Botticino marble, afizélia wood flooring, and full underfloor climate control. Highlights include two suites, a private garden, and a garage for three cars. Sustainable technologies like geothermal systems, solar panels, and green roofs reflect the project’s forward-looking vision.
The condominium offers resort-style amenities: a heated indoor pool with natural light, Turkish bath, romantic grotto and lake, mature gardens, and a 500m walking path. This is a rare opportunity to live in a masterfully designed retreat that blends urban sophistication with peace and privacy — a landmark project in the legacy of Souto de Moura.
7. Contemporary Casa by Manuel Aires Mateus in Ajuda/Lisbon
T3, 228 m² land, 1.800.000 €
Image Screenshot from KW Website
This striking minimalist villa in Lisbon’s Ajuda district is a rare residential work by Manuel Aires Mateus, one of Portugal’s most renowned architects. Completed in 2019, the house spans four levels and showcases Aires Mateus’ signature language: sculpted volumes, pure geometry, and a deep sensitivity to light and space.
Built on a sloping plot with dual street access, the design maximizes privacy while maintaining openness through full-height glazing and an airy open-plan layout. High-end materials — from natural stone to custom aluminum framing — complete this urban sanctuary. A true architectural statement just minutes from the Tagus River.
8. Contemporary Villa by Aires Mateus in Estoril
T4, 1.080 m² land, 4.485.000 €
This striking villa in Estoril is a rare example of contemporary residential architecture by Aires Mateus, one of Portugal’s most internationally recognized architects. Designed with minimalist precision and sculptural clarity, the house features clean volumes, generous natural light, and a refined dialogue between indoor and outdoor living.
Set on a spacious plot in a premium location, the home includes four suites, an open-plan living area, a 21-meter heated pool, a private rooftop terrace with sea views, and high-end finishes throughout. The layout across two floors, plus a panoramic rooftop, allows for both family living and elegant entertaining — a modern architectural statement in one of the Lisbon coast’s most desirable neighborhoods.
9. Elegant Villa by Jean Pierre Porcher in Braga’s Prestigious Dona Antónia Neighborhood
T4, 1.380 m² land, 1.500.000 €
Image by Ben
Set within the exclusive Dona Antónia residential estate on the slopes of Monte Frio, this stunning contemporary villa is a refined work by French-Portuguese architect Jean Pierre Porcher, with interiors reimagined by Central Arquitectos. The project blends natural topography, privacy, and architectural clarity into one of Braga’s most sought-after addresses.
Part of a carefully designed masterplan of 46 homes, the villa respects the surrounding landscape while offering a modern L-shaped layout that opens the house to its private garden and mountain views. Spread over two levels, it includes four luxurious suites, high-end finishes, and generous open-plan living spaces bathed in natural light.
Materials such as natural stone, solid wood, black steel, and corten highlight the attention to detail. The kitchen is fully equipped with Gaggenau appliances, and the living room opens to the outdoors through large-format glazing. Several suites offer direct garden access, and the master bedroom includes a bespoke walk-in closet, natural silk finishes, and a bathroom clad in marble.
This is a house of both subtle elegance and rich materiality, perfect for those seeking a private yet design-forward home near the heart of Braga.
Dona Antónia Neighborhood listed at Portugal Modern here.
10. Award-Winning Villa by Hélder Ventura & Helena Máximo – Ovar
T4, 784 m² land, 550.000 €
Winner of the “Januário Godinho” Award from the City of Ovar, this villa by Hélder Ventura and Helena Máximo brings a unique voice to contemporary Portuguese architecture. The home is organized over three split levels, creating a smooth connection between rooms while maintaining distinct zones.
Features include a sunken living room with a fireplace, garden views from the dining room, and a private pool lounge perfect for relaxing or entertaining. The master suite on the top floor opens to a terrace with a full view of the property. It’s a well-balanced home with excellent natural light, high-quality finishes, and easy access to the beach, city, and rail — ideal for those who value both design and lifestyle.
Villa listed at Portugal Modern here.