filipe pina adds an underground concrete patio to house restoration in portugal

filipe pina arquitectura has completed the careful renovation of an existing building in the small village of guarda in portugal. the project seeks to preserve the original architectural features of ‘gafanha house‘ while adding just a few subtle concrete interventions below ground level.

images by joão morgado

upon the request of the client, the restoration pays homage to the building’s history and the family that has occupied it up until present day. with this in mind, filipe pina has retained the original granite stone, which is a typical material of the region. the stone is supplemented only by some elements of concrete, such as the patios that have been added as new living spaces.

the main drivers of the project were the contours of the land, together with the existing volume of this traditional house, consisting of an animals’ shelter on the first floor, and a small living area on the upper level. the lower floor, which is located partially underground, has been transformed into an ample living space with clear differentiated functional areas. the two patios – one orientated towards the sunrise and the other facing south – are independent structures that shape the topography of the surrounding land, allowing natural light to enter the space. the upper floor is then composed of the private rooms.

during the restoration process, both the scale of the intervention and the identity of the village were key factors in the architect’s design. with the subtlest of interventions, filipe pina has retained the character of this old stone house. from the outside, the robustness of the stone and concrete contrast with the light and bright contemporary interior.

project info:

project name: gafanha house

location: guarda, portugal

architect: filipe pina arquitectura

design team: filipe pina

photography: joão morgado