A vacant building in the historic, mainly residential neighborhood of Madragoa.
Built at the beginning of the 20th century – the “gaioleiro” type – it has undergone successive alterations and replacements over time. The marquee and its reinforced concrete support structure, dating from the 30s, stand out.

The result is atypical. A disjointed ensemble in which the poor quality and state of conservation of the marquee addition de-characterizes the original building and the urban ensemble in which it is located.

For our proposal, we chose one main strategy – to reinforce the contrast between the different eras and construction methods that distinguish the two bodies of the building, thus intensifying the dialog between them.
From here, the project moves forward with two distinct approaches.

Of a more subtle nature, the restoration of the main building is restricted to enhancing its original elements, hence respecting its constructive and compositional logic.

On the other hand, the renovation of the side body enjoys greater freedom, in search of an attractive, expressive and recognizably contemporary image. This leads to a new zinc-covered volume in which three vertical, colored stripes are cut out, corresponding to a new metric of windows.

Inside, each floor is occupied by a dwelling, with the exception of the top floor, which is a duplex with a small outdoor terrace. There is a new arrangement of spaces that seeks to respond to the needs of today’s life, optimizing the comfort and functional logic of each house.