Hillside House, an architectural home rental in Gerês, Portugal

Architect Carlos Castanheira Elevates the Perspective

A stunning architectural home in Portugal's only national park, Gerês, this property stands dramatically on stilts overlooking the reservoir. Designed around nature, it's one of those properties that makes your jaw drop a little, with huge windows and terraces to make the most of its surroundings.

An architectural gem, created by Carlos Castanheira, it's located on a hillside in the Gerês National Reserve with stunning views over the reservoir. It's a large space, constructed from timber and glass, with even larger decks - perfect for three couples sharing.

The house is elevated from the ground by 52 timber pillars, and almost the entire structure of the house has been left exposed. Interiors are wide open with wooden floors and ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the whole building. With the views through the windows, there's no need for decor, although there are occasional nods to the natural surroundings in the form of antlers and butterflies.

From the living room, guests have access to a large terrace with dining space, and for each of the three bedrooms, there is access to a balcony at a slightly different level from the larger one. The house sleeps 8 guests - in one master with a king, and two rooms with singles and bunks. The large living area is divided by a central fireplace and includes a sleek contemporary kitchen.

The house is accessed by a bridge at the roof level, but it has a private boat dock too.

Around

The Peneda-Gerês National Park, known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal and it's located in the Norte region, in the northwest of Portugal.

There are several hiking trails leading to interesting spots like the castros at Castro Laboreiro and Calcedónia, and the monastery at Pitões das Júnias. The two most visited sites are the waterfalls near the old frontier station at Portela do Homem, and the Vilarinho das Furnas village.