“Casa das Histórias” – Paula Rêgo Museum

A place of contemplation and encounter between art, architecture and landscape

The "Casa das Histórias" – Paula Rêgo MuseumDesigned by Eduardo Souto de Moura and inaugurated in 2009 in Cascais, Portugal, is one of the most significant works of the Portuguese architect. This museum is dedicated to the work of the artist Paula Rêgo, one of the most renowned painters in Portugal.

Eduardo Souto de Moura conceived the project as an architecture that dialogues with the traditional Portuguese language, reinterpreting it through a contemporary sensibility.
Her main design choices include:

Materiality and chromatic tone - The use of terracotta red pigmented concrete is one of the distinctive features.
Pure geometric volumes - The project is composed of simple and geometric volumes, mainly characterized by two truncated pyramidal towers that emerge as symbolic elements.
The building is developed on a single main level, facilitating access and use of the spaces.
The interiors are characterized by flexible spaces, where natural light is the protagonist, thanks to skylights and carefully designed openings.
Game of full and empty spaces - The building is compact, but with carefully calibrated openings that allow optimal control of natural light within the exhibition spaces. Souto de Moura worked on the quality of natural light, which delicately penetrates the exhibition spaces, creating a soft and diffused lighting that enhances the works without dazzling visitors.
Functional simplicity - The interior spaces are designed to enhance the works of Paula Rêgo, with attention to the flexibility of the spaces and the quality of light. The architect has created a cozy atmosphere, which facilitates the contemplation of the works.

The context and the insertion in the territory

The "House of Stories" is found in Cascais, a town on the Portuguese coast rich in history and culture. Eduardo Souto de Moura respected the natural and urban context, integrating the building into a green area, surrounded by maritime pines and native vegetation.
The architect paid particular attention to the relationship between the building and the surrounding garden, creating a fluid transition between the interior and exterior spaces.
The scale of the building, despite the presence of the towers, is contained, avoiding to dominate the surrounding environment. This balance allows the museum to fit elegantly into the landscape, without imposing itself in an invasive way.

The apparent simplicity hides a carefully studied project, where every detail is aimed at creating a place of contemplation and encounter between art, architecture and landscape.
This project is a perfect example of Souto de Moura's approach, which combines minimalism, attention to context and a strong sense of place.