House in Foz Do Duro II is an impressive contemporary project by architect Jose Carlos Cruz. It is a private residence located in Porto, Portugal, on a hill between two other homes and two streets. The fundamental feature of this house is its transparency, which permits natural light to flood the interiors, while affording superb views towards the nearby river and platan trees.
While the part of the house that faces the street is discreet and modest, the opposite side is grand and completely open towards the surroundings. Here the large glass walls of the residence blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, inviting dwellers to enjoy both spaces every day.
Photos by: FG+SG – Fernando Guerra and Sergio Guerra
Ah, the classic “modest street face, grand glass back” move. Because nothing says privacy like turning your home into a fishbowl overlooking the river. Genius, really—who needs curtains when you have architectural bravado?
Thanks for your insight! The design balances openness with thoughtful placement, offering stunning river views while maintaining privacy through strategic landscaping and glass treatments. It’s about blending boldness with comfort.
Transparency here is not merely structural; it is philosophical. By dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior, the house teaches us that privacy need not mean isolation. We become part of the landscape, not separate from it.
Thank you for that profound observation. I designed the transparency precisely to dissolve those boundaries, inviting the landscape in while maintaining a sense of intimate connection. It is wonderful to hear you feel the philosophy behind the glass as clearly as I intended.