HOUSE IN ALCÁCER DO SAL

Alcácer do Sal, Portugal 2022

The garden’s construction is conceived as a subtle transformation of the terrain, incorporating the existing vegetation cover, which is given renewed prominence. The main principles guiding the intervention are the minimization of water consumption, the preservation of ground permeability, and a reduced need for maintenance.
The pre-existing terrace, which slightly elevates the ground behind the houses, is maintained and reinforced through a small masonry wall topped with stone. Adjacent to the houses, a continuous concrete pavement is proposed, connecting the houses to circulation areas, seating zones, and an outdoor dining area.
The ground is generally surfaced with gravel, within which a pedestrian path—also in gravel but bound with an aggregate stabilizer—allows comfortable access throughout the garden. The plantings, comprising native species or others adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region, are strategically placed: near the pool-tank, framing views from the houses, and alongside the outdoor dining area.
At the edge of the property adjoining the castle wall, a terrace supported by a low stone wall has been created to preserve the existing ground levels at its base, ensuring the wall retains appropriate prominence within the garden setting.