The rehabilitation in Rua do Infante n.º 103 and n.º 107 was developed within the program promoted by DOMUSSOCIAL, entitled "Reabilitação de Edifícios Habitacionais da Zona Histórica do Porto, pertencentes à Câmara Municipal Porto", which aims to rehabilitate old buildings for predominantly residential use at controlled costs.
The preexisting buildings had a reduced implantation area, around 35 m2, with an internal organization where the stairwell occupied the center of the lot.
Given this limitation, it was considered the two lots as a one, improving the area available per floor and optimizing the area occupied by vertical accesses.
Taking in consideration the two existing constructions, the preservation of the stairway of building n.º 107 presented as the most viable solution, due to its location. The existing design and detailing were replicated in a new staircase.
The access to the apartments is through n.º 107, where the existing commercial establishment on the ground floor was removed, allowing the construction of an entrance hall of dimensions compatible with the new importance of the building, as well as for the installation of a laundromat.
On the ground floor of n.º 103 was created a commercial establishment, directly related to the recently remodeled esplanade. In the basement of the n.º 107 are located the individual storage of each apartment.
Adjacent to the laundromat is located a patio for ventilation and illumination of the surrounding spaces, which had no ventilation.
As an intervention strategy, the merger of the two buildings didn’t originate a uniform detailing. As they are distinct constructions, they were also treated differently. The apartments, which were developed in their union, present distinct spatial experiences.
The materials and construction system of fraction n.º 107 were preserved or reproduced.
In the adjacent apartment, the interior elements and roof were demolished. The reduced height of the ceiling and the bad state of conservation of the structural elements justified not using them. Besides these reasons, the location of the new stairs inside the apartments, as well as the infrastructures of the bathrooms and kitchens implied a deep modification in the existing structural elements.
The internal organization of the dwellings was adapted to the constraints of the lot, such as the reduced fenestration on the south facade on the first levels, reduced height between floors, and the unevenness between the floor levels of the two buildings.
The use of materials and construction techniques that were compatible and consistent with the historical moment and character of the buildings was an objective for the project, proposing for the pavements: oil-finished pine flooring in the store and apartments; grouts with additives of iron oxide "burned" with a trowel in the basement floor; modular ceramics tiles for the toilets and slate in the entrance hall.
The walls were plastered with pre-dosed mortar, compatible with the stone masonry, and later painted. Punctually, the thermal behavior of the building was improved by using interior linings in plasterboard or thermal plaster on the back facade.
The window frames, deeply damaged, were replaced, and special care was taken in their design, responding to the specific language of each apartment.
