Álvaro Castelões
Located in the heart of Matosinhos, this building has suffered several divisions of space and different occupations over the years, without a clear functional configuration. The external concrete staircase, which provided direct access to the upper floors, highlighted this fragmentation. In the courtyard, there were several annexes that were in a state of physical deterioration. However, one of the original residents remained until the end, which led to a rethinking of the design strategy.
The intervention begins with the demolition of the external staircase and annexes. The courtyard is designed to accommodate an apartment with a private garden, promoting the relationship with the exterior. The stone façades on the south-west, north-west and south-east fronts are adaptively reused, reinforcing them with new concrete slabs and roofing. The new construction, in the northeast and in the expanded areas, uses concrete and thermal blocks to ensure thermal efficiency and structural performance. The new solutions prioritise continuous thermal insulation, thermal break window frames and heat pumps to ensure prolonged sustainable comfort in the residential units.
The building’s architectural language is based on enhancing what already existed, with new materials and solutions only being introduced where necessary. Some original tiles have been preserved, while others have been replaced to ensure consistency and durability. The choice of log wood for the interior floors reinforces the welcoming atmosphere of the spaces, balancing the old with the new.
Above all, this project seeks to breathe new life into a fragmented and vacant building, transforming it into a coherent, functional residential building that meets the current needs of its users. Despite the technical challenges that a thorough renovation brings, a solution was found that strikes a balance between memory, innovation, individuality, and community.
Client: VRL Investments, S.I.R.I, Lda (Vincent de Robert)
Architecture: Ren Ito Arq. (Ren Ito)
Stability, Water Supply, HVAC, Fire Security, Acoustics, Gas: Eng. Rui Valdoleiros
Electricity, ITED: Eng. Gilberto Pinto Teixeira
Thermal Design: Eng. Rui Mendes
Constrution: Janota Pirâmide construções. LDA
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio
Collaborators
Diana Todorova, Angelo Calabretti, Ludovico Vallarola, Sofia Augusto, Bruno Monteiro, Benedetta Allegrini, Meltem Durmus, Marianna Papaioannou, Dominika Ljavinyec, Anna Vitkova, Veronika Batisitic, Ayami Hazemoto, Melina Kampouroglou, Ada Muszaslska, Judita Prlender, Aysenur Karatas, Juan Ignacio, Anatolii Kuhal, Alzbetka Francisci, Leonardo Ramires, Imogen Halliday, Rabia Çatpinar, Emilija Stojković, Ioanna Platania, Ngoc Thanh Chu, Karen Guetat, Alejandro Becerra, Álvaro Reyes
The intervention begins with the demolition of the external staircase and annexes. The courtyard is designed to accommodate an apartment with a private garden, promoting the relationship with the exterior. The stone façades on the south-west, north-west and south-east fronts are adaptively reused, reinforcing them with new concrete slabs and roofing. The new construction, in the northeast and in the expanded areas, uses concrete and thermal blocks to ensure thermal efficiency and structural performance. The new solutions prioritise continuous thermal insulation, thermal break window frames and heat pumps to ensure prolonged sustainable comfort in the residential units.
The building’s architectural language is based on enhancing what already existed, with new materials and solutions only being introduced where necessary. Some original tiles have been preserved, while others have been replaced to ensure consistency and durability. The choice of log wood for the interior floors reinforces the welcoming atmosphere of the spaces, balancing the old with the new.
Above all, this project seeks to breathe new life into a fragmented and vacant building, transforming it into a coherent, functional residential building that meets the current needs of its users. Despite the technical challenges that a thorough renovation brings, a solution was found that strikes a balance between memory, innovation, individuality, and community.
Client: VRL Investments, S.I.R.I, Lda (Vincent de Robert)
Architecture: Ren Ito Arq. (Ren Ito)
Stability, Water Supply, HVAC, Fire Security, Acoustics, Gas: Eng. Rui Valdoleiros
Electricity, ITED: Eng. Gilberto Pinto Teixeira
Thermal Design: Eng. Rui Mendes
Constrution: Janota Pirâmide construções. LDA
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio
Collaborators
Diana Todorova, Angelo Calabretti, Ludovico Vallarola, Sofia Augusto, Bruno Monteiro, Benedetta Allegrini, Meltem Durmus, Marianna Papaioannou, Dominika Ljavinyec, Anna Vitkova, Veronika Batisitic, Ayami Hazemoto, Melina Kampouroglou, Ada Muszaslska, Judita Prlender, Aysenur Karatas, Juan Ignacio, Anatolii Kuhal, Alzbetka Francisci, Leonardo Ramires, Imogen Halliday, Rabia Çatpinar, Emilija Stojković, Ioanna Platania, Ngoc Thanh Chu, Karen Guetat, Alejandro Becerra, Álvaro Reyes
