At first glance, you could say it is “just” another luxury villa in the southern area of Quinta da Marinha, in Cascais. But all it takes is stepping inside to realize that this home in Costa da Guia has been meticulously designed to function as a private resort: an infinity pool seamlessly connected to the garden, a rooftop with panoramic views, a basement that feels like an entire hidden floor, and a double-height living room that almost forces you to look up.
In this feature, idealista/news goes in search of original homes and found this detached villa on Rua dos Abetos, which fits perfectly into the “discreetly extravagant” category: from the outside, it fulfills the role of elegant contemporary architecture; inside, it serves as a masterclass in how to use every square meter to create spaces for living, moving around, and contemplation. Shall we take a look inside?
Where it all begins: a villa staged in the southern area of Quinta da Marinha
Open-plan living room and kitchen
Glass-fronted first floor, natural light, and en-suite bedrooms with walk-in closets
Rooftop: the true highlight of the house
XXL basement: multipurpose room, storage, and garage
What makes this house truly different in an area full of luxury homes?
Where it all begins: a villa staged in the southern area of Quinta da Marinha
This contemporary-style villa is located in the southern area of Quinta da Marinha, one of Portugal’s most sophisticated residential locations, and is available on idealista for €25,000,000.
The plot measures 1,665 square meters (sqm), with 1,071 sqm of gross construction area, while the outdoor spaces – approximately 1,356 sqm – were designed by a renowned landscape architecture firm. This is evident in the garden’s layout, the shaded lounge areas, and the way the swimming pool integrates into the terrain.
This is not simply a “plot of land with a house on it”; it is a setting carefully designed so that the home interacts with its surroundings.
Open-plan living room and kitchen
The ground floor is where you first experience the scale of the property. The layout is fluid and open, with a ceiling height that makes the living room feel even larger than it already is. The atmosphere is that of a contemporary gallery where, coincidentally, people also happen to live.
The minimalist kitchen is designed as an open-plan space and will be equipped with top-of-the-range appliances, but the most interesting aspect is something else: it is clearly part of the home’s social area rather than an isolated room.
The living and dining areas extend onto a terrace that leads directly to the infinity pool and the garden.
The various outdoor lounge spaces have been designed for different purposes, such as:
  • Late-afternoon meals;
  • Long conversations in the shade;
  • Reading moments accompanied by the sound of water in the background.
Also on this floor, there is a more private wing featuring a generously sized en-suite bedroom and an office, almost as if there were a “mini apartment” within the house itself for those seeking greater privacy.
Glass-fronted first floor, natural light, and en-suite bedrooms with walk-in closets
As you move up to the first floor, the key word is openness. The house has been designed with large openings to allow as much natural light as possible to enter and, more importantly, to capture views of the surrounding natural landscape.
Here you will find three en-suite bedrooms, each with its own walk-in closet, meaning everyone enjoys a private bedroom, an en-suite bathroom, and generous storage space.
The most interesting detail is the way these rooms open up to the outdoors: large windows, balconies, and the panoramic view that reveals itself in layers—first from the interior, then from the façades, and finally from the rooftop. This floor acts as a bridge between the home’s most private area (the bedrooms) and the “viewpoint” above.
Rooftop: the true highlight of the house
If you had to choose one symbolic space in this villa, you would probably choose something that technically is not even a room: the rooftop. The project description clearly states that this is where the view can be enjoyed “in all its splendour.”
More than simply a roof with access, the rooftop is a space designed to be used. Imagine late afternoons overlooking Quinta da Marinha and the surrounding natural scenery, low lounge chairs, perhaps a fire pit, the clear skies of Cascais, and the feeling of being in a five-star hotel… while actually being at home.
XXL basement: multipurpose room, storage, and garage
While most homes treat the basement as an afterthought, here it feels like an entire floor with clearly defined functions, including:
  • Laundry room;
  • Multipurpose room (which could serve as a gym, home cinema, games room, or all of these in rotation);
  • Two storage rooms;
  • Plant room;
  • Garage for four cars.
What makes this house truly different in an area full of luxury homes?
In an area such as Quinta da Marinha, there is no shortage of villas with swimming pools and high-end finishes. What places this property on the list of truly “original” homes is not just its price tag or location, but the way it brings together several less obvious elements within a single project:
  • Scale and proportions: more than 1,000 square meters of built area, distributed across three carefully designed levels;
  • Thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces: landscaped gardens, an infinity pool, and multiple outdoor lounge areas;
  • A usable rooftop: not just a roof, but an elevated social space with open views;
  • A functional basement: a four-car garage, multipurpose room, and organized storage areas, rather than a random underground space;
  • Construction stage: the project still allows buyers to choose certain materials and finishes, providing room for personalization without having to start from scratch.