It is widely acknowledged that the practice of architecture never begins with a blank slate. There is always something no matter how small intrinsic to ourselves and embedded in the surrounding context that nourishes our thoughts, enriches our understanding, and lingers in memory, whether through significance, emotion, or sheer curiosity. To design within an existing built environment is to add a new layer of meaning to that so-called “blank page” and to the ongoing narrative of History itself. It means embracing the challenge of engaging with what already exists its form, its essence while unlocking the possibilities and latent opportunities it holds within.
This challenge becomes all the more pronounced when the client in this case, the future resident naturally and rightfully desires “the best of both worlds”: to preserve the character and charm found in the timeworn, whitewashed stones of the chosen dwelling; to introduce a sense of modernity, comfort, and well-being; and to foster the creation of a unique and unrepeatable domestic microcosm a transformation of a space into a true home, into my home.
This, perhaps, was the project’s greatest difficulty. And surely the greatest anguish for the clients… because until the final solution was found until they fully and confidently made it their own doubt lingered, persistent and unrelenting.
The solution ultimately preserved the enduring quality of the existing structure: thick granite walls, a roof composed of sloping planes clad in traditional tiles, carefully replicated openings and window frames. Yet these are paired with reimagined and re scaled spaces, forming a contemporary environment that opens clearly to the private exterior visibly, yet shielded from public gaze. It includes curated objects, living moments, and design solutions that, it is believed, will render this construction timeless.
This was the real challenge: to respond to the present, honour the past, and anticipate the future all within a structure that is solid in its construction, beautiful in its aesthetic, efficient in its function, balanced in its rationale, and resonant in its emotional depth.
In the end, what remains is the effort to bring all elements into dialogue, the satisfaction of seeing them coexist in harmony, and the hope that time will affirm the ultimate goal: the happiness of those who will live within these walls.
After all, that is the true purpose of architecture.
Team:
Arquitecture, Lighting Project, Visual identity : Ricardo Azevedo Arquitecto
Main Architect : Ricardo Silva Azevedo
Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Acoustic Design, Fluids Engineering : Fénix Engenharia Civil
Architectural photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio
