Towering Leafy Green Walls Liven up the Boxy Quinta Patino Home in Portugal

Boxy homes are efficient to build, and they needn't be boring as the Quinta Patino in Portugal clearly demonstrates. The 700 sqm home designed by <a href="http://www.fvarq.com">FVArquitectos</a> is a grey, rectangular volume infiltrated by a series of sneaky inner courtyards and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/largest-green-wall-in-north-america-to-be-unveiled-tomorrow/">towering leafy green walls</a>. Combined with wooden doors and shutters and the occasional pane of glass, the vertical gardens give the contemporary house a surprisingly calm eco-ethos that is especially great for kids.

Tall leafy green walls completely liven up the Quinta Patino home in Portugal

The boxy volume disguises a series of inner courtyards

Wooden shutters open or close to permit daylighting or establish privacy

Many large trees surround the plot in Estoril

A long rectangular pool provides relief from the summer sun

The surrounding landscape is relatively wild, and the house frames wonderful views

Big wooden doors open and shut to the outside

The green walls create a healthy microclimate

Boxy can be boring, but this home definitely isn't