The original house's construction and functional organization is typical of Ponte de Lima's urban center, with a characteristically medieval implementation: a long, narrow lot, stone construction, and only two facades.
The challenge became particularly interesting during the remodel of the interior compartmentalization, due to its meager dimensions.
Our proposal seeks to valorize the building's architectural quality — which is linked to the quality of the entire Historical Center—intervening in order to recuperate the memory of its internal organization (vertical communications), its spatial nature (low ceiling height) and its construction (wood and stone).
The first floor presents itself as an "open space" created through the elimination of the compartmentalization, which affected the lighting conditions and enjoyment of the space.
The rear facade featured a rugged design, the result of previous, unskilled interventions. We chose to redesign this elevation by creating a structure of iron profiles and beams, creating a certain aesthetic unity.
We thus sought to recuperate some of the original features, removing the plaster and exposing part of the original stone masonry facade.