Alentejo Garden Court

Alentejo Garden Court imagines daily life gathered around a planted outdoor room. A low house wraps three sides of the court, leaving its far end open to the landscape. From the living room, the eye passes between pale walls towards a broad tree and a clear path. The garden gives the shared rooms a common outlook while holding the two private wings apart.

The concept draws on the breadth of Alentejo, from its inland plains and scattered cork oaks to its Atlantic coast. Low whitewashed houses are part of that regional reference. Here, warm plaster and an open garden court become the starting points for an original home, with a palette that allows earth, foliage and timber to remain distinct.

Inside, the living arrangement is deliberately relaxed. Three loose cushions soften an ivory sofa, with a single taupe throw falling from its rear arm. A cognac leather chair brings a warmer tone across the woven rug. Between them, an oval stone table rests on two rounded supports; two books and an open ceramic vessel give its broad surface a modest sense of use. Visible timber beams lend rhythm overhead.

A generous side opening connects this space to dining and cooking. Eight timber chairs gather around one table, with a dark pendant above and a smaller olive bell marking the preparation area. The kitchen follows the perimeter, keeping the centre available for meals and movement. Open shelving, a sink window and a second narrow window give the room several points of interest without competing with the view back towards living.

The entrance sits along the outside of the opposite wing. A timber bench, woven baskets and wall hooks make a practical arrival space before the connection into living. Nearby, the utility concentrates its worktop, sink and closed cupboards along one side. The shared bathroom draws light from a rooflight, while the suite passage places two windows beside the route to the main bedroom. These quieter spaces keep the everyday workings of the house close at hand.

The private wings offer different degrees of retreat. A garden gallery serves the study and guest bedroom on one side. The study holds a writing desk and low book storage; the guest room has its own compact ensuite, with high privacy glazing. Across the court, the main bedroom leads to dressing and bathing. Timber wardrobes frame a landscape window in the dressing room, while a bowl basin and clear shower screen continue the pale palette in the main ensuite. Settled linen and small bedside pieces carry that warmth into both sleeping rooms.

Outside, the planting leaves room for passage and for the house itself to be read. The tree stands to one side of the central route; earthenware containers accompany the opposite wing. Mineral ground, low scrub and dry grasses form a looser edge beyond the terrace. The design seeks a garden that can be seen from several rooms, with changing foregrounds and familiar landmarks making those views belong together.