The Boat House: A Harmonious Blend of Architecture and Nature

Pedro Quintela's Award-Winning Residential Design Inspired by Natural Elements

The Boat House, awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021, is a unique architectural intervention that emerges naturally from its setting. Quintela's design is inspired by the shape of a leaf, the slanted columns of surrounding trees, and the organic forms of the house, which he views as extensions of the human body. These elements connect with the basic nature elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space, reflecting a deep respect and gratitude towards the planet.

What sets The Boat House apart is its intimate relationship between the interior and exterior, resulting in a symbiotic sharing of two organisms harmoniously diluted into a single permeable entity. The usual still life paintings hanging from the walls are replaced by the surrounding living nature framed by the windows. This house is about a divine process of sharing between what is given by Mother Nature to humans and what humans give back through their capacity to feel, interpret, and create, adding value to their life on this planet.

The simplicity of the materials used in the construction of The Boat House highlights the essence of Quintela's architecture, which he seeks to be genuine and unmasked. The same materials are used inside and outside, such as the wooden roof structure, the walls cladding finishing, and the floor stroked cement. The tones of the local stone and the sand of the nearby beaches inspired the colours of the house, integrating it into the surrounding landscape.

Quintela's design process is intuitive, with the sites themselves being his real clients. He spends most of his time with them, listening carefully to their whispers. They tell him how they want to be rebuilt, and Quintela takes on the role of spokesman, creating in the unique places what they may or may not request, infusing the intervention with the holistic morphology of the place.

Expressing the Spirit of the Place is the core belief that guides all of Quintela's interventions. Through a holistic approach that perceives architecture as a natural evolutionary process, he aims to create a consistent intervention from which arises a harmonious place. Only when the structure has assured respect for the place does Quintela believe the work to be authentic and express value, beauty, and truth.

The Boat House is not just a structure; it's a testament to the power of architecture to blend seamlessly with nature, creating a space that is not only functional but also emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually engaging. It's a design that respects and celebrates the spirit of the place, creating a harmonious and authentic living space.