The location and its circumstances

The property is located in a privileged area, within an ecological reserve, with a visual domain over an extensive stretch of the Minho River and the adjacent Galician landscape. It included the building of the post and an annexed courtyard.

The location was classified as a National Ecological Zone. Consequently, it was legally imperative to maintain the existing building's implantation perimeter. However, it was possible to raise the ridge height. As a result, an additional floor was added, which was necessary for the house to accommodate a T3 program. The old Fiscal Guard post was 15 meters long by 5 meters wide. This was the implantation polygon under which it was necessary to work on the development of the architectural project, in the conception of the dwelling.

The North facade provides a charming horizon over the bed of the Minho River and Galicia, but without sunlight. The South facade has excellent solar exposure, but the landscape does not have the attributes of the opposite facade.

The project

The narrow width of the floor plan polygon on each floor determined the structure of the interior space organization of the house.

Thus, all living compartments have one facade facing the river and another facing the sun (to the South).

The scarcity of available area led to the idea that the daytime spaces (kitchen and living rooms) would also be circulation spaces between other compartments. As a result of its adoption, the area usually allocated to vestibules and corridors was saved, benefiting the living rooms and bedrooms.

The bathrooms are juxtaposed to the bedrooms and interposed between them and the daytime living spaces. Thus, a simple "game" of doors allows them to be used privately by the adjacent bedroom at night, and commonly during the day.

In this house, direct access from the ground floor compartments to the private outdoor space was prioritized, thus promoting visual continuity between the compartments and the outdoor space.

It was decided to visually differentiate the newly built floor, emphasizing its aspect as an addition. We clad it with wood in a "shirt and skirt" style, as is the case in some instances of annex constructions or floor extensions in existing buildings, in local vernacular architecture.

Energy and sustainability

The courtyard was converted into a low-water-consumption country garden. The irrigation is done with water from a pre-existing well, thus avoiding the use of public drinking water.

The heating of sanitary hot water and the ambient conditioning are achieved through the combined use of a hydraulic heat recovery system and a heat pump, resulting in low consumption of non-renewable energy.

Conclusion

The conversion of a Guard Post into a residence, in Barca Nova, is a consummated exercise in the specific revitalization of this heritage, in accordance with contemporary standards of comfort, functionality, and sustainability.