On the outskirts of Leiria, Portugal architects Manuel Aires Mateus completed a project in 2010 that truly stands on its own. What looks like at first the typical silhouette of a house soon shows it to be something else entirely.

Privacy was the order of the day here as can be seen by the lack of windows and other openings. It's stark white facade contrasts with its seemingly traditional form. The house has been designed around a three-storey central courtyard, which provides light and views for the household.

The design appears to have had a childlike beginning but this very fact shows the purity in the modern design. It is not weighed down with ornamentation of any kind. It certainly is a work of art.

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