House Travessa da Cruz

Location: Faro downtown

Current stage: Work concluded 2018

Type: Reconstruction of old single family house in historical downtown

This urban rehabilitation project aimed at the total reconstruction of a house including roofs, preserving only the façade towards the street.

The lot in question, in an old part of the city, acts as a row-house, narrow and long, with only a short street frontage. Given the shape of the lot, the challenge was to create a living, dining and kitchen space that was versatile and at the same time guaranteed greater ventilation and natural lighting, through a small patio and an attic window.

Elements of the original house were maintained and rebuilt, such as the wooden doors and trim. At the suggestion of the client, the structural reinforcement was left in concrete in its natural color in contrast to the old walls in white. The staircase to the upper floor was rebuilt and maintained in its original position, but the adjacent walls were removed to provide more space for the social area of the house. With the purpose of tourist accommodation, the challenge of this project was, in a plot of limited area, to manage to provide three double rooms with the necessary conditions and comfort for a holiday stay and guarantee a spacious, naturally lit and versatile kitchen and dining space.