Extrastudio has designed Casa Plaj in Lourinhã, Portugal.

Casa Plaj's plot is set on a steep, narrow strip of land in the heart of the countryside and a five-minute walk from the beach, offering panoramic views over the sea, valley and village in the distance.

Inspired by its surroundings, this project is designed in a radically simple form, combining elements used in historic local buildings in a way only possible in the present.

Given its proximity to the sea and a modest budget, the structure utilises reinforced concrete – the only viable structural material in the region, where its walls are constructed from common brick masonry and finished with a pigmented lime render, keyed to the tones of the distant village.

By using local, minimally processed materials, Casa Plaj is designed to age naturally, eventually becoming as much a part of the landscape as the elements surrounding it.