Cúpulas da Comporta is a private residence in Carvalhal, Grândola, organized around three volumes: one housing social areas and master suite, another with four guest bedrooms, and a third for wellness. Each volume is defined by flat or geometrically perfect domes—cúpulas—rooted in the Latin cupa. The architectural language draws from both the cupula (vaulted shelter) and cuba (domed cistern), echoing Alentejo typologies. Set within Comporta’s sandy terrain, the house integrates with the landscape through lime-rendered façades, handcrafted ceramic details, native vegetation, and a central garden with a swimming pool connecting all volumes.
Cúpulas da Comporta reinterprets two ancient architectural archetypes —the cupula (dome as shelter) and the cuba (cistern as vessel)—to propose a contemporary dwelling rooted in regional heritage. These references, drawn from local vernacular structures such as water cisterns and chapels in the Alentejo region, inform both the aesthetic and functional organisation of the house.
Located in Carvalhal, Grândola, on a sandy terrain characteristic of Comporta’s landscape, the project is composed of three main volumes arranged around a central garden. Volume A accommodates the social areas—including the living room, dining room, kitchen, office, and master suite and is defined by two cúpulas achatadas (flattened domes) that span the communal spaces, echoing the sheltering quality of traditional domes. Volume B contains four additional bedrooms, each topped by a geometrically perfect dome, referencing the form of cubas—cistern-like structures historically used to enclose and protect. These rooms open onto private gardens, emphasizing intimacy and seclusion. Volume C serves as a leisure and utility space, with a Jacuzzi carved into the center of its domed interior, transforming the dome into a spatial container for relaxation and retreat.
The architecture respects the topography and existing vegetation, adopting white-rendered façades, handcrafted ceramic details, and green integration through native planting. The domed forms are not decorative but structural and symbolic: they create shaded spaces, control solar exposure, and give the house a clear and timeless identity.
Circulation is organised through exterior covered paths and patios, emphasising the connection between indoor and outdoor life, a core aspect of Comporta’s architectural language. The swimming pool is positioned to the west, acting as a closing element of the composition and taking advantage of the sun’s path.
Cúpulas da Comporta embodies a balance between tradition and innovation, between sculptural presence and discretion in the landscape. It stands as an example of architecture rooted in place and history while responding to contemporary living standards and environmental considerations.
