The House That Became a Scandal

Albergaria-a-Velha is not a city known for architectural experimentation. It is a place of tradition, where houses follow expected patterns, where deviations are noticed—and judged.
But in 1990, Carlos Vidal and his wife decided they didn’t want just another house. They wanted a home designed by Alcino Soutinho.
Their friend, Rui Marques, who had served as the mayor of Albergaria, had encouraged them:
“Let’s bring some architecture to this city.”
And so, they did.

A House That Shocked Its Neighbors
From the very beginning, the house broke the mold.
• It was big, nearly 600 square meters—much larger than its neighbors.
• It was pink—a bold color that stood out against the muted tones of surrounding homes.
• It was a fortress, enclosed by walls that ensured privacy but also sparked curiosity.
Locals hated it.

This was the 1990s, and in a small town, a house like this felt like an invasion. Rumors spread. Some compared it to a military bunker. Others said it looked like something Saddam Hussein would build—a reflection of the geopolitical tensions of the time.
And worst of all? The Vidal children, who attended the local high school, were mocked as “the children of terrorists.”

A House Built for Privacy, Designed for Experience
Beyond the controversy, the house itself was a masterpiece of controlled space.
• Three levels, subtly integrated into the land’s slope, hiding its scale.
• A central patio, unifying the interior spaces while ensuring maximum privacy from the outside world.
• Rooms that followed a strict hierarchy, with the social areas on the ground floor and the private bedrooms above.
• A dedicated entertainment level, featuring a wine cellar, a party hall, and direct access to the garden and pool—perfect for a family that loved to host.

The “Pink Debate”
Originally, the house was meant to be white with green shutters, but after a conference in Italy, Soutinho came back with a new idea.
“What if we paint it pink?”
For him, it was a way to bring warmth, to experiment, to give the house an identity.
For Albergaria? It was an outrage.
Yet, despite the whispers and the criticism, Carlos Vidal never regretted his choice. Years later, when people came to visit, they no longer saw it as a scandalous oddity.
They saw it as a house that had stood the test of time.
It wasn’t just a home—it was a landmark.

📖 This story is based on research from the Master’s Dissertation in Architecture and Urbanism:
“As Casas de Alcino Soutinho: Estudo das Habitações Unifamiliares entre 1963 a 2003” by Ana Rita Moreira