Casa no Caramão

Little Pool House in Lisbon

Its boxy façade sparkling white with a Juliet bedroom balcony and backyard plunge pool, this remodeled architectural townhome is a decidedly modern remake of a 1940s-era original.

A remodel by phdd Arquitectos updates this sleek, wood-on-white townhome with a pool in a quiet, royally-inspired Lisbon neighborhood overlooking the Tagus River. Its boxy façade sparkling white and balconied, this sweet townhome in Lisbon’s village-like Caramao da Ajuda neighborhood is a contemporary makeover of a traditional 1940s-vintage village home, now inhabited by an actor. The bright, intimate space covers two levels, with a polished, contemporary wood-clad stairwell connecting the home’s vividly whitewashed, stacked volumes. Furnishings have been kept to a minimum, with a pastel stone kitchen island overlooking the courtyard-styled plunge pool, and the entire space expanded by oversized glass windows, floor-to-ceiling sliders, and architectural accents that bring it added pops of sunlight.

There is a basement space (perfect for a family hangout) that can be booked in addition to the main property.

Around

Located in the Caramao da Ajuda neighborhood of Lisbon west of downtown and close to the popular, monument-filled Belém area of the city, the townhouse joins similar two-story townhomes in the village-like enclave. The neighborhood occupies a gentle hillside facing the Tagus River and was built mostly between 1940 and 1945 to mimic a small village and recreate the tight-knit atmosphere and simple, rural lifestyle with access to the city. The 1775 earthquake put the neighborhood on the map as part of Lisbon after the royal family took up residence in temporary housing on the site of present day Adjuda Palace in what back then was mostly farmland with a handful of noble estates. The neighborhood’s landmark, namesake Palace wasn’t constructed until after the king’s death, with initial plans for it to become Europe’s largest royal palace, with gardens extending all the way down to the Tagus River. Napoleonic invaders and the resulting Brazilian exile of the royal family stopped construction of the palace, and the site remained unfinished, its west wing in quasi-ruin, until 2018, when construction was begun on the newly built, contemporary design completion. The palace grounds contain the Ajuda Botanical Garden, a polished park setting of formal French gardens and beds holding more than 5,000 species brought in from around the world during the heyday of Portuguese exploration. 

A bit further from the home, the urban forest of Monsanto Park covers some 1,000 hectares, and is walking distance from the house. Forest bathing, picnicking, cycling, hiking, mountain biking and sports facilities (skatepark, tennis, gym) lie within the park’s leafy boundaries, and the protected forest is referred to as Lisbon’s “lungs.” The property includes two bikes for exploring the Tagus riverfront or nearby parks, and a 15-minute walk leads to Lisbon’s landmark Belém area, with its Monastery do Jerónimos, churches, monuments, museums, shops, markets, and cultural centers. The heart of downtown Lisbon is a 10-minute drive, as is the beginning of the Cascais coast, which extends for miles beyond the city, offering celebrated beaches, colorful palaces, and outsized gardens.

Location

Caramao da Ajuda, Lisbon, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon, 30 minutes

Best time to visit

March to October