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Professional Surfer’s Modern Classic U-Shaped House

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I love the satisfying purity of line of this house for a professional surfer and his young family.

Jorge Graca Costa designed the U-House overlooking San Lorenzo Bay in Portugal.

The U-House is located high on the coastal hills overlooking the World Surfing Reserve.

The architect and the client wanted to unobtrusively incorporate renewable energy into the design, rather than tack something on later.

Solar and biomass generate the heat for the outdoor, non-chlorinated swimming pool.

Double glazed windows keep out the heat, and a modern update on traditional deep overhangs of a porch roof keep out the summer sun while inviting in the winter sun lower in the sky.

Sited to protect against very strong coastal winds of western Portugal, only the deep front of the “U” is “open”.

Underfloor heating is radiant thermal heat supplied by the same solar heating for the outdoor pool.

Sustainable timber lines the U-shaped corridor connecting the two sides.

A central fireplace, because it’s clad in stone, acts as a thermal sink, giving off warmth long after the fire is out.

Cork is used for its insulating properties.

Other sustainable measures include rainwater harvesting for irrigation and for the household water needs.

The unassuming house is small, but adequate for the family and their two children.

After a day of surfing and fun at the beach for the children, the pool is a place of peace and relaxation.

This no-fuss aesthetic is just right for the athletic young family.