One of the dilemmas of the visual nature of architecture in modern times has been whether a building should retain an identity that uniquely separates itself from its context or if it should blend in with its surroundings. The answer to this can perhaps be found in the inquiry itself. A building could merit the place it sits in without particularly looking native, and another could seem to blend right in while it harms the surroundings to a great degree. Hence the assumption that the aesthetic disposition of a project—the visual blending with its environment—depicts harmony with its context is a logical fallacy. It takes a multitude of factors to make a building appropriate for its place. The Hidden House, by the Russian architecture firm, Kerimov Architects explores this concept in its biophilic design philosophy. Located on a cliff surrounded by a picturesque Mediterranean setting of coastal hills, the project comprises 800 sqm of residential architecture in Lagos, Portugal. Holding to its name, the house with its fragmented form and minimalist volumes sits in harmony with its natural landscape.

The design of the project responds to the prerequisite by the local governing body—to make the house practically invisible and to alter the local landscape as little as possible. The building was also required to not stand out from the environment, since the cliff on which it is located is visible from downtown. “The house is perfectly integrated into the landscape: from the side of the road, the building seems to be one-storey, but from the side of the ocean and the downtown it is almost invisible,” says the design team. The building is nestled in the mountain, with the taller volumes lodged into the crevices and the smaller ones built on higher levels. This causes the composition to look gently rising and falling, seemingly mimicking the terrain while also displaying an extensive interplay of volumes. Even with the structures not completely above the ground level, the spaces have expansive openings that overlook the natural surroundings and let in ample natural light.

With each functional volume being an independent architectural unit with open and semi-open spaces connecting them, the project upholds a cavernous nature in principle. The use of simpler cuboidal forms optimises the usable area of the built space while the material palette mimics naturally weathered rocks and mud. “The colour scheme of the house, built of architectural concrete and metal, is inspired by the colour of the area: the sandy shade of the facade correlates with the colour of the rocks, so the house, like a chameleon, mimics the rocky landscape without standing out,” Kerimov Architects explain in a press statement.

The Hidden House includes two swimming pools, with differing experiential qualities. One of the pools has an elongated shape and runs longitudinally along the central volume, peering into the sea at one end. The second pool, with more traditional proportions, sits at the edge of the landscape area nestled in the rocky cliffside, with a glass edge that also looks over the cliff. All the architectural volumes of the house with their connecting spaces share a fragmented nature, creating a constant visual connection with the surrounding context. It makes the house engaging in both ways—visual and experiential.

The staff building—which sits between the large central space housing the living areas, and the entrance area—has a roof garden that overlooks the landscaped space at the edge of the house and has a grand view of the surrounding nature. The entrance leads one to the upper reaches of the living block while the inner courtyard—located on the lower level—can also be accessed through the stairs.

The orientation of the house and window openings were based on two factors—the need for privacy while maximising the views of the natural surroundings. The house's location is based on the cardinal points, which provide thermal comfort for the inhabitants even during the hottest times of the year. Kerimov Architects also used solar panels to accommodate certain energy requirements of the house. While thermal energy is used to heat the pool and the interiors on rare cool days, the insulation is regulated by swivel lamellas installed on the windows. With the residence being located on a rocky terrain, laying water lines became tricky, hence water collection tanks and funnels for collecting rainwater are used for watering plants and other technical needs.

While the aesthetics hold a high degree of subjectivity, the consensus expresses that the environmental impact of the architecture needs to be reduced greatly. With highly innovative technologies that make sustainability more easily achievable, design has achieved great flexibility. While innovation in visual aesthetics is often lauded when it comes to buildings that are part of a natural environment, the need to not disturb and blend within the context becomes essential. The Hidden House attempts to become one with the environment through its form and materiality while employing technologically advanced methods to provide comfort and luxury to the inhabitants—also illustrating an increased desire amongst architects to create buildings that do not stand out radically in a natural setting.

Project Details

Name: Hidden House
Location: Lagos, Portugal
Area: 1193 sqm
Architect: Kerimov Architects