Casa do Penedo, “Stone House,” Portugal (1972)
In the rolling hills of northern Portugal, four boulders stand strong against the elements, part of nature, but hiding a curious secret. A home has been built using the massive boulders as part of its architecture. In 1973, the Rodrigues family took a trip to Fafe Mountain. As the family explored the mountain, the parents found the spot an ideal place to build a mountain retreat. The family, whose patriarch was an engineer from Guimarães, purchased the boulders, each one of which had a different owner. The stone sanctuary served as a vacation home. In 2014, the property was featured on a website, Strange Buildings of the World, where viewers could vote on what they considered architectural anomalies. The media came calling. Tourists and visitors began seeking out the house. The Rodrigues family opened the property for tours, but return to the property to enjoy their holiday home.
