Rehabilitation and expansion of a house in ruins
- Renovation & Repurpose, House
- Terras do Bouro, Gerês, 2005
The rehabilitation and expansion project in Gerês transforms a highly degraded centennial small farm house into a bright, comfortable, and easy-to-use home, providing a tranquil enjoyment of the natural environment and the expanse of the horizon. The old house is located on a vast wooded lot with great privacy. The topography exposes the house to the south and positions it in front of a lush and unobstructed landscape, typical of the mountain environment of Gerês.
Setting in place
The house to be rehabilitated and expanded is situated on a large wooded plot, sloping southwards, with good solar exposure and great privacy. The topography places it in front of a lush and unobstructed landscape, typical of the Gerês Mountain environment.
The pre-existing structure
The existing house, built before the 20th century, has a rectangular layout defined by thick peripheral structural walls made of local granite blocks. It has two superimposed floors, which were originally assigned different functions. The upper floor was intended for a small dwelling. The lower floor was designated for the grape press, storage of tools, and animal pens. The openings to the outside, doors and windows, are narrow and scarce. In addition to these, there was the grape discharge window of the press on the north facade. The available areas to accommodate the desired functional program are also scarce and insufficient.
The architectural project
The expansion of the functional program, including the preparation and dining area, living room, and two independent bedrooms, made the existing covered area insufficient. Therefore, a new volume is added to the existing building, intended to house the living space of the house, dedicated to enjoying the surrounding trees and the vast landscape.
The upper floor of the old house was entrusted with the new bedrooms. The lower floor was designated for the dining room and kitchen, illuminated by a large opening on the south facade and by a "zenithal light well" above the meal preparation counter, whose light comes from the grape discharge window in the press.
The living room floor has an intermediate level between the two floors of the existing building. This positioning makes the living room a mediating space between the two floors of the house, like an intermediate stage between the dining room and the bedroom floor.
Access to the house from the public path was designed to guide the arrival to the building without invading the privacy of the outdoor spaces adjacent to the rooms. These spaces are conceived and treated as an extension of them.