the ‘studio c’ project by NPS arquitectos is a refurbishment on the ground floor of an early 20th-century building in the center of the city of figueira da foz, portugal. adapted into a loft, the space — once a small broom factory — keeps the historical construction elements as much as possible, while using timber for additional structures.

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
studio entrance with a lower ceiling

 

 

to design a new space, NPS arquitectos have studied the typology reinforce the presence of the constructive elements that testify its time, among which the irregular granite masonry, the structures and wood partitions, the brick arches and an iron safe box built into one of the walls. the refurbishment privileged this conditions, maintaining it whenever possible.

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
building entrance

 

 

in the structural and cladding elements of the new walls and ceilings, silver fir wood was used. this solution aimed to present the new elements through the use of a homogeneous language that contrasted with the textures that remained in time, especially the granite and wood surfaces.

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
central core in silver fir wood

 

 

the central core, with a smaller height for the introduction of a mezzanine, includes the technical spaces: the laundry and the bathrooms. this core separates two distinct space moments — the living room/kitchen and the bedroom, both with double height ceilings. the housing also has a small outdoor space in which solid ceramic brick was used as a coating material.

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
natural light from the garden

 

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
maintenance of the existing structures

 

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
lights and shadows

 

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
laundry’s peephole to the living room

 

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
the contrast between raw, smooth and bright room surfaces

 

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
living room and the laundry’s peephole

 

NPS arquitectos turns an early 20th-century building in portugal into a timber loft
detail of the existing brick and stone wall with newly painted wood window

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: maria erman | designboom