House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos
This home on a golf course complex in Belas on the outskirts of Lisbon consists of five smaller houses connected by interior passages.(+ slideshow)
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/43sq.jpg)
Designed by CHP Arquitectos, the residence is located on one of many plots of land dotted around the course.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/45.jpg)
Each plot on the site was sold individually so every villa is designed by a different architect, resulting in a variety of styles and designs.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/42.jpg)
Alfonso Fernandes of CHP Arquitectos explained the inspiration for the project: "Our design is based on the main aspects of traditional Portuguese architecture, with special attention to the balance and harmony between each building."
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/1.jpg)
Fernandes told Dezeen the firm used the Portuguese villages of São Gregorio and Monsaraz as inspiration: villages with clusters of white houses, tucked closely against one another.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/4.jpg)
CHP Arquitectos wanted to design a building with various small volumes connected by passageways that generate courtyards, making it possible to edit and carefully frame views both internally and externally.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/6.jpg)
Alfonso explained, "We could hide ourselves from the surroundings that we didn't want to see, and turn towards the surroundings we found more interesting."
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/23.jpg)
The family home is centered around a social core with all other functions distributed around it within the different volumes.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/19sq.jpg)
The social core hosts a large living room and access to the garage by a central staircase, which is protected by sucupira wooden panelling that also incorporates a sofa.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/17.jpg)
"The sofa divides the living room in two distinct areas, an everyday TV room with direct relation to the fireplace, and a social area to the far side of the sofa, 50 centimetres below," Alfonso explains.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/32.jpg)
The living room spills out onto two large courtyards and a pool
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/22.jpg)
Next to the family bathroom is a children's playroom, leaving the other two blocks on the west wing of the house for bedrooms, with the master bedroom and dressing room spreading over 20 square metres of the house.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/29.jpg)
One of the requirements of the client was for the house to have a lot of wardrobe storage space. This is built into the walls and disguised with white panels.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/36.jpg)
The long passageways between blocks provide opportunity to frame particular views.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/28.jpg)
Where blocks overlap, to avoid looking out onto white walls, shrubs have been planted to create small pockets of greenery.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/13.jpg)
Other houses in Lisbon that we have featured on Dezeen include a house that costs the same amount to manufacture as a family car, and a narrow townhouse with green walls.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/33.jpg)
Photography is by Francisco Nogueira.
Here is a description from the architects:
House in Belas, Lisbon
Architecture: Construir Habitar Pensar Arquitectos with Carolina Queimado
The design intends to express a contemporary look onto the main aspects of traditional Portuguese architecture, with special attention to the balance and harmony between each building.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/40.jpg)
The house consists of five different bodies, linked through passages. Spaces between each body create a series of relationships, distances and views are generated, providing a rich and diverse atmosphere.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/9.jpg)
The social areas are located in the core of it all, benefitting from the surrounding environment, and allowing a simple and functional distribution throughout the house.
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/47.gif)
Above: roof plan - click above for larger image
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/48.gif)
Above: ground floor plan - click above for larger image
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/49.gif)
Above: section - click above for larger image
![House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos House in Belas by CHP Arquitectos](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/11/50.gif)
Above: section - click above for larger image