Casa em Areias de Vilar. Barcelos
Remodeling and extension of rural house, Areias de Vilar, Barcelos
The plan was to extend the house (a small and decaying rural construction, typical from the Minho region, in plastered stone, surrounded by granite walls with a porch at the entrance and a cattle shed) by making it suitable and fit for habitation and giving it a new (modern) appearance.
The plan developed in the following way:
1.The remodeled house with kitchen and living room would be in plastered stone and the roof would be in ceramic tiles.
2.The extension at the top of the existing house would deviate from the neighbors ground maintaining the geometry from the original but it would be in shown concrete and the roof would be in copper.
3.The porch would be rebuild in a metallic structure.
4.The frameworks, because they would be new, would be in stainless steel to become invisible.
When the works started and the waste and dirt were removed, the ground was revealed and a beautiful irregular rock with an unusual morphology appeared giving the house a surprising dignity. That enormous stone, nonexistent during the entire project plan consideration, changed everything and became the essence of the building:
- The remodeled house with kitchen and living room is now in shown stone and the roof is in ceramic tiles.
- The extension at the top of the existing house deviates from the neighbors ground maintaining the geometry from the original and is now in shown stone and has ceramic tiles roofing.
- The porch was rebuild in stone and wood structure.
- The frameworks, because they were new, are in wood to become visible.
The walls, all of them new, were rebuild with the traditional design and using a traditional equipment and they enclose the ground, the gardens and the vegetable garden and also protect the granite rock, main character of the story.
Nuno Brandão Costa
Porto, September 2007
