Set within an agricultural estate in Vila Nova de Gaia, characterised by gentle slopes, the “Casa do Engenho” forms part of a built ensemble dating back to the early 18th century, comprising the main residence, cultivation areas, threshing floor, wells — one of them the old engenho — and several small ancillary buildings. This secondary volume, originally intended to host family gatherings and celebrations, had a rigid and compartmentalised layout that limited its functionality and everyday use.
A three-month temporary stay in the former pool house, during works carried out on the main residence, revealed the space’s potential. This discovery prompted the transformation of the building, now known as “Casa do Engenho”.
The proposal centres on a complete interior transformation, preserving the structural integrity and exterior architectural expression. The reading of the façade was clarified through a more regular rhythm and the introduction of new shutters, ensuring comfort and flexibility in the control of natural light. Although formally connected to the main house, the building asserts its own autonomy and identity, adopting a more contemporary and contrasting language. The intervention prioritises visual permeability, natural light — especially from the west — and a spatial continuity that redefines the way the house is inhabited.
The ground floor brings together the social areas in a single continuous space: living room, dining room and kitchen flow into one another within a unified environment marked by the warm materiality of wood. Sliding panels allow the relationship between kitchen and living area to be adjusted, providing openness or privacy according to use. This floor also includes a laundry room, pantry, guest bathroom, garage and the main suite, equipped with a walk-in wardrobe, bathroom, and a spa area with direct access to the exterior.
The upper floor accommodates two suites and a large lounge, all with access to balconies. The pitched roof incorporates strategically positioned skylights to ensure natural illumination. It extends beyond the building’s footprint, creating a covered outdoor area that enhances usability while providing solar protection.
The original staircase was preserved, standing out as one of the project’s central and symbolic elements. The initial stone steps extend the entrance hall flooring and contrast with the remaining wooden steps, which introduce a lighter, more contemporary character, imparting rhythm and continuity to the route connecting the social and private areas of the house.
The material palette draws on natural elements capable of engaging in dialogue with the existing structure, while the interior spatiality favours continuity, fluidity and the relationship between inside and outside.
Following the intervention, the building ceases to be a secondary space and assumes a central role in family life. “Casa do Engenho” is reborn with vitality, meaning and comfort, honouring the memory of the place while projecting it into the future. Above all, it is a space conceived to welcome the continuation of a family’s story, now reinterpreted through architecture.
