Detail of a skylight.This peculiar building is located in Olhão (Algarve, Portugal) and it has three floors and four facades, each communicating with the outside through four different shaped staircases, each of these, in turn, facing a primary cardinal point (North, South, West and East) and each representing the four natural elements (water, earth, fire and air) through the representations of a stylized fish, a snake, a Portuguese guitar and a violin.
Detail of indoor stairs and colonnade, inside the same building:
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as the light goes in 
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This is stunning – the building and your photographs. We go to Olhão lots but have yet to stumble across this delight – where exactly is it and can anyone visit?
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Hi Becky. Thank you for your kind words. Yes, you may visit it and you should. It clearly deserves it. It’s located in the heart of the Ria Formosa, confining with the camping site of Pinheiros de Marim (Parque de campismo dos bancários). This peculiar building is known as Chalé João Lúcio and it is possible to visit it in organised groups from Monday to Friday, 9:00h to 17:30h. More information here: http://www.cm-olhao.pt/casa-joao-lucio-ecoteca (Portuguese language only I’m afraid). Cheers!
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Ah yes seen it from outside – we’ve just need been organised enough to get in! I’ll definitely visit now though 🙂
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