Rehabilitate, reconvert, restore identity

Context and pre-existence

Built around 1905, the residence was progressively altered by successive interventions:
the installation of a bakery on the ground floor, the alteration of the main facade for a commercial display, the replacement of the original tiles, and the complete covering of the courtyard to create a manufacturing space.
Over time, new makeshift constructions in the back worsened the loss of identity of the house and its garden.

The rehabilitation project

The intervention had as its main objective to requalify the architectural image of the building and reconvert it for residential and tourist use, respecting its scale, character, and construction memory.

The main facade was fully restored, reinstating the original expressiveness of Porto's bourgeois residences.
In the back, dissonant constructions were removed, except for a volume on the second floor, which was requalified and integrated as an extension of one of the apartments.

The old concrete factory roof slab was partially demolished, restoring permeability to the soil and creating private patios and gardens that ensure natural light, ventilation, and thermal comfort for the new residences.

In the floors of the original residence, the structural partitions were maintained, adjusting them occasionally to allow for a contemporary living experience of the spaces.
The intervention resulted in eight studio apartments and one one-bedroom apartment, four of which are designated for short-term rental.

Sustainability and efficiency

The rehabilitation operation was based on principles of minimal intervention, preserving walls, floors, and roofs whenever possible.
This significantly reduced the consumption of new materials, transportation, and waste volume — key factors for the environmental and economic efficiency of the project.

The project also introduced high-performance thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as efficient window frames, ensuring comfort and energy efficiency throughout the building's lifespan.
The adopted construction solutions prioritize recyclable materials and sustainable techniques, in line with a contemporary approach to urban rehabilitation.

Summary

The Conversion of the Residence into 9 Apartments on Álvares Cabral is a careful and sustainable urban rehabilitation, combining heritage respect, construction efficiency, and modern livability.
A project that returns to the city the bourgeois memory of a historic building — now rewritten for a new way of living in Porto.