Residence MLD

A Mediterranean home where architecture and landscape become inseparable.

Nestled within the rolling landscape of Melides in Portugal's Alentejo region, this family home was designed for an English-Australian family who had spent many summers in the area and developed a deep connection to its landscape. They envisioned a place to return to with their grown-up children and, in time, future generations—a home where family and friends could gather and enjoy the slower rhythms of long summers together.

The architecture is organised around a generous central living space that forms the heart of the house. The kitchen, dining and sitting areas flow seamlessly into one another before opening onto a sequence of outdoor rooms, blurring the boundary between inside and outside. Two independent wings extend from this central space: one accommodates the family, while the other provides privacy and comfort for visiting relatives and friends, allowing the house to expand naturally as it fills with guests.

All the communal spaces are oriented towards the surrounding vineyards, where the family is cultivating its own grapes to produce wine. The vineyard becomes more than a landscape; it forms part of the daily rituals of the house, connecting shared meals, celebrations and the changing seasons to the place itself.

Drawing on the traditional architectural language and materials of the Alentejo, the house is defined by generous proportions, carefully framed views and a strong connection to its surroundings. Throughout the project, the emphasis remains on living in harmony with nature and creating a home designed to welcome family and friends for generations to come.