What it covers
Designing a new house is the most complete work Soul In Lines does. Architect Ana Pinho follows the whole journey: she starts by understanding the plot and the way you want to live, designs the house, prepares the project for licensing with the Câmara Municipal (the municipal council) and follows the building works to the end. She works alone, so you always speak directly to the person designing your home.
The service can include:
- an analysis of the plot and the planning rules that apply to it;
- a preliminary study with alternative layouts and positions for the house;
- the architecture project for licensing;
- coordination with the specialist engineering projects your case requires;
- the construction project, with the drawings and specifications for the works;
- following the works on site, with in-person visits whenever the project calls for them;
- 3D visualisations, so you can see the house before the works begin.
Before you buy the plot or start
Not every plot allows the house you have in mind. Each municipality’s master plan (the PDM) sets, among other rules, how much you can build, how tall, how many storeys and how far from the plot boundaries. Other constraints can limit or rule out building altogether, such as the National Ecological Reserve (REN), the National Agricultural Reserve (RAN), watercourses or road easements.
That is why the first step is to read the plot. Ana checks the PDM and the constraint maps and, when in doubt, it can be worth asking the Câmara Municipal for a formal prior opinion (a pedido de informação prévia) before investing in the project. If you have not bought the plot yet, this analysis helps you decide with more confidence.
How it works
- We listen. A first conversation about your family, the plot, the budget and what you expect from the house. Ana visits the plot in person whenever the project calls for it, in Pinhal Novo, across the rest of the Setúbal Peninsula and in Lisbon; elsewhere, the work starts remotely.
- We counsel. A preliminary study with options for the position of the house, sun orientation, layout and materials, always with the budget in mind.
- We solve. The architecture project, submitted to the Câmara Municipal with the specialist projects it needs. Ana follows the process and answers the council’s comments.
- We deliver. The construction project and the follow-up of the works, so that what happens on site matches the house that was designed.
What to gather
- The plot’s tax record (caderneta predial).
- The land registry certificate (certidão permanente).
- A topographic survey (if you do not have one yet, Ana tells you what to ask for).
- Photographs of the plot and its surroundings.
- The budget for the works and a list of what the house must have.
Timelines and fees
Timelines depend on the project: the size and complexity of the house, the constraints on the plot and how long the Câmara Municipal takes to appraise it. In the first conversation, Ana gives you a realistic idea for your case.
Fees are set for each project in a clear proposal and paid in stages as the work progresses, so you always know what each stage includes before it starts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need specialist engineering projects?
Yes. Besides the architecture project, a new house needs specialist projects such as structure, water and drainage, electrical, thermal performance and others, depending on the case. They are prepared by qualified professionals and accompany the architecture project through licensing.
Can I see the house before going ahead?
Yes. The study and the project come with 3D visualisations, so you can understand the volumes, the light and the materials before any final decision.
Have the licensing rules changed?
The Simplex Urbanístico reform (Decree-Law no. 10/2024) has changed several procedures since 2024. That is why the procedure for each house is confirmed with the Câmara Municipal of the municipality where the plot is.
See the work
You can see two commissioned house designs, not yet built, on the projects page, find out more about architect Ana Pinho and about how a project works.