Casa No Tempo, Alentejo, Portugal

After the success of their wooden cabins in Comporta, João and Andreia Rodrigues turned their attention to an old family farm set among 400 hectares of wildflower fields, lakes and cork groves near the hill top village of Montemor-o-Novo. In partnership, once again, with architect Manuel Aires Mateus, they created a low-lying white four-bedroom building combining modern minimalism with a rural timelessness. Huge windows bathe the white-on-white interiors in light. Rust-red clay floor tiles add warmth. Outside, a sunken swimming pool is the perfect spot to survey your kingdom, which stretches as far as the eye can see.