ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal

initially envisioned as partially subterranean, the discovery of a granite rock during construction led to the redesign of the project.

thomai tsimpou February 28, 2025 3 min

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Stefano Riva breathes new life into ancient ruins in portugal

Vineyards cover the landscape of Resende, Portugal, where architect Stefano Riva transforms one of the site’s buildings into a holiday retreat, Casa Jeronimo. Set within the Douro region, known for its terraced granite walls and winemaking tradition, the residence emerges concerning the history of the site while introducing a bold pink volume.

One of the few surviving elements of the original structure, a weathered granite wall, encloses the residence. Rather than merely restoring the ruin, Riva introduces a contrasting concrete volume, an abstract interpretation of the historical footprint marked by the original farm building. Initially envisioned as partially subterranean, the discovery of a granite rock during construction led to the redesign of the project to respect the natural boundaries of the terrain.

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 1 — all images by Attilio Fiumarella, courtesy of Stefano Riva

climbing plants turn Casa Jeronimo’s granite wall into a garden

Italian architect Stefano Riva organizes Casa Jeronimo across two levels. The ground floor houses the kitchen and living areas, while moving up, the first floor accommodates three bedrooms and a library. Interstitial spaces between the built forms become planted voids with climbing vegetation, and trees gradually cover the structure, transforming the preserved granite wall into an enclosure for a garden.

The use of pink-pigmented concrete mirrors the regional vernacular architecture, complementing the lush greenery of the vineyards. Rather than imposing itself on the landscape, the intervention reflects a sensitive adaptation of the existing context, shaping a contemporary retreat.

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 2 — located in the vineyard-covered landscape of Resende, Portugal

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 3 — a weathered granite wall encloses the residence

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 4 — Riva introduces a contrasting concrete volume

ancient-granite-wall-pink-concrete-holiday-house-stefano-riva-portugal-designboom-large02 — the discovery of a granite rock during construction led to the redesign of the project

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 5 — the residence emerges concerning the history of the site

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 6 — introducing a bold pink volume

ancient-granite-wall-pink-concrete-holiday-house-stefano-riva-portugal-designboom-large03 — the Douro region is known for its terraced granite walls and winemaking tradition

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 7 — the use of pink-pigmented concrete mirrors the regional vernacular architecture

ancient granite walls envelop pink concrete holiday house by stefano riva in portugal - 8 — neutral tones define the interiors

pink contrasts with the verdant surroundings Stefano Riva organizes Casa Jeronimo across two levels the ground floor houses the kitchen and living areas the use of pink-pigmented concrete mirrors the regional vernacular architecture interstitial spaces between the built forms become planted voids transforming the preserved granite wall into an enclosure for a garden complementing the lush greenery of the vineyards the intervention reflects a sensitive adaptation of the existing context shaping a contemporary retreat gravel covers the rooftop climbing vegetation, and trees gradually cover the structure architect Stefano Riva transforms one of the site’s buildings into a holiday retreat the first floor accommodates three bedrooms and a library the pink concrete ceiling colors the interior large windows let light inside model of the residence by Stefano Riva masterplan by Stefano Riva basement plan by Stefano Riva first floor plan by Stefano Riva rooftop plan by Stefano Riva sections and elevations by Stefano Riva

project info:

name: Casa Jeronimo

architect: Stefano Riva | @rivastefanoriva

location: Resende, Portugal

collaborator: Omar Sala, Daniela Marques, Yasmine Tanout, Aurora Mason

engineering: Jorge Gomes, JG-Projectos de Engenharia

constructor: Pereira Melo & Ribeiro Lda

client: Jeronimo Montenegro

photographer: Attilio Fiumarella | @a_phi_photo