Forja House is a vacation dwelling in a village near the Douro River. The house is a product of the topography of the site, resulting in a partially embedded volume in its slopes. The brief was straightforward - a small house under a low-cost budget that directly engages with the surrounding nature - a retreat hut.

The simplicity of the brief reflects the simplicity of the design. The modest palette of materials aims to set a simple and almost austere mood. The exposed concrete on the floor, the timber panels - raw materials contrast with the green canopies that insist on characterizing the interior.

Arriving through a narrow rural path, the entrance is on the upper floor. A social area defined by contiguous spaces and generous openings that frame the wilderness. The goal of the narrow design of the house is to take advantage of the lighting orientation while keeping the views of the valley. On the lower floor, the bedrooms have a more cavernous and protecting feel.

Outside, a concrete water tank characterizes the peaceful social outdoor space, mimetizing an old rural tank that stood on site for decades. The intervention was set to be as respectful as it could be. As a neutral, grey rendered, abstract volume, it nestles in the slope with the smallest footprint possible. The house sits quietly in the wilderness, among trees, bushes and rural paths, trying not to break the spirit of the place.

The house was built for a young family of four. The goal was to have a nature retreat opposing the busy city life in Porto. The simplicity of the design would be the biggest assent since it couldn't collide with its natural surroundings. The site, placed in the Bestança Valley was overwhelming - they just needed a shelter to live it.

The austerity of the solution plays with the concept of the hut, with life in the wild. The boundaries of indoor and outdoor are less clear.

The place is characterized by the silence. A quietness that is only broken by some herd of animals passing by, and family and friends slowly living.