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Bronze Winner of the Design Skill Awards 2025

Casa M

Architecture

Best Living-Space Architecture

Completed / Professional

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Architect / Designer:

Jorge Prata & Eduardo Soares

Studio:

Silverline

Design Team:

Beatriz Ferreira
Francisco Castilho
Nelson Amado

Copyright:

Ivo Tavares Studio

Country:

Portugal

The project consists of a two-story single-family house designed to adapt to a plot with a 3-meter slope. To integrate the construction into the terrain, a split-level system was adopted: towards the street the house appears as a single-story volume, while at the rear it develops across two levels. Pedestrian and vehicular access occur at street level, leading either to the upper half-floor with private areas or to the lower half-floor for social areas, positioned at ground level. Although designated as floor -1, all living spaces face east, south, and west, ensuring natural light and ventilation.

The functional organization is structured into three areas. At the entrance, a hall distributes access to the different zones. On the same level, there is a covered garage for three vehicles, a technical area, and a guest room/home office with private bathroom. The private sector includes a master suite and two smaller suites, each with bathroom, walk-in closet, bedroom, and balcony. This floor is clad with solid wood slats, unifying the volume and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The lower floor concentrates leisure spaces, directly connected to the exterior through large glazed openings. It includes the living room, kitchen, laundry, guest bathroom, and a small game room. Two covered terraces extend the social areas towards the garden and swimming pool. The design promotes continuity between interior and exterior, reinforcing a fluid and spacious character.

The living and dining rooms and kitchen form a continuous open space. Their subtle differentiation is achieved through uniform materials—wood in the furniture and microcement on floors—ensuring coherence and amplitude. The transition between living and kitchen can be closed with sliding wooden panels, providing flexibility in privacy and use. The kitchen incorporates a concealed panel system that hides functional elements when closed, reinforcing its multifunctional nature.

The project follows a contemporary approach, using natural materials and solutions that enhance the integration of indoors and outdoors. The volumetric composition combines exposed concrete, wood, and stone, balancing robustness and elegance. Overall, the design emphasizes functionality, comfort, and harmony with the site’s topography.

Silverline

Silverline was founded on the belief that Architecture and Construction should coexist organically, merging creative vision with technical execution in a unified language. Established in 2008 by architects Jorge Prata and Eduardo Soares, the studio, based in Vila Nova de Gaia, combines design precision with a deep commitment to place, function, and human experience. Each project is treated as a unique opportunity for investigation and response — formal, functional, and emotional — to its physical, social, and cultural context. Structured around two complementary areas — Architecture and Construction — Silverline works collaboratively from concept to execution, ensuring consistency, technical rigor, and a strong sense of authorship. This synergy allows the studio to go beyond building, shaping architectural experiences designed to inspire, welcome, and endure.