The architectural studio NMDARQ – Nuno Miguel Dias, Arquitecto has completed Casa DR, a striking two-storey residence in Torres Novas, Portugal, distinguished by its sober volumetrics and a sophisticated material palette. Situated on a 600 m² urban plot in the Meia-Via area, the house responds to the site’s mixed architectural context by offering a clear, contemporary statement. Completed in 2024, the 215,00m² dwelling is a study in subtraction, where the form is strategically carved to maximize natural light and ventilation.
The design process began with a primary volume from which portions were removed based on functional criteria, climatic performance, and solar orientation. These strategic subtractions create defining architectural features like the main entrance, a covered parking porch, and various terraces and voids. This technique ensures the home receives abundant natural light and maintains efficient airflow throughout. The resulting composition is a balanced structure that enhances both habitability and the home’s distinct aesthetic identity.
The Casa DR is organized across two levels, maintaining a clear separation between the social and private areas. The ground floor is the centre of daily life, containing the entrance hall, living room, kitchen, and a dedicated home office. A key internal feature is the sculptural suspended staircase in the hall, fabricated from white steel plate and set dramatically against a black backdrop.
The social spaces flow seamlessly to the exterior through large glazed openings, linking the interiors to the pool and the garden leisure area. To further boost illumination, skylights are incorporated above both the cooking area and the living area.
The upper floor is reserved entirely for the private quarters: two standard bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and a master suite. The suite features its own bathroom and a private open-air patio. Natural light bathes the upper circulation area via a generous skylight positioned over the staircase. Each bedroom benefits from a private balcony, two of which are larger and cleverly integrate skylights into their flooring to illuminate the spaces directly below.
The material palette is coherent and refined. Externally, the building uses painted render contrasted with black anodized aluminum frames and details in enamelled iron. Inside, the walls and ceilings are finished with painted plaster, complemented by continuous grey microcement flooring and feature elements in white marble and black enamelled panels. This minimal selection underscores the project’s simplicity and contemporary character.
The outdoor spaces are designed with functionality in mind, combining lawned areas with honed concrete slab pavements. The swimming pool and main leisure area are optimally located to the South-West to capture maximum solar exposure. To the North, existing pine trees were preserved to act as a natural windbreak. The property boundaries incorporate a perimeter fence of vertical enamelled iron bars and shrubbery, ensuring visual permeability and promoting a more integrated relationship with the surroundings, rather than a closed-off lot.
The Casa DR successfully balances programmatic requirements with a compelling formal expression, affirming NMDARQ’s ability to deliver a distinctive and elegant architectural solution in an evolving urban context.