Page 112 - AIT0321_E-Paper

WOHNEN • LIVING INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES

Ringsum umschließt das steinerne Mauerwerk wie ein Schutzwall die in die Raumhülle eingestellte Raumstruktur aus Holz. • The brickwork encloses the inserted spatial structure of timber like a rampart.

T here were times when the few inhabitants of Aldeia de João Pires in the mountai- usable bathroom as well as a pantry are positioned below the added ceiling; the private
nous outback of central Portugal still gathered to bake bread and the community
rooms are on the second level. The core of the new interior is the staircase linking all the
oven used to be a lively trading point for village gossip. But those days are long past. Al- zones that, with varying length and width of the steps, can be used as a counter, a bench
ready more than half a century ago, the oven was taken out of use and since then – as and a table in front of the fireplace. The lower part of the staircase has the same colour
Henrique Barros-Gomes describes it, “with solitary dignity and sad beauty” – has been as the grey screed on the ground floor whereas the steps above it visually connect with
waiting for a new purpose. The founder of HBG Architects recognized the great potential the upper zone, the timber fitting.
of the neglected functional building and thus accepted the task of turning it into a com-
fortable country home to be used during the inclement winters as well as the extremely Furnishing with newly interpreted materials typical of the region
hot summers.
Overall, the inserted spatial structure shows a well-balanced composition of overlapping
Interior volume expanded and completely restructured and intersecting volumes and surfaces. The latter have been grouped as to colour and
material and contrasted with red as a reference to fire. Thanks to the installation of ex-
The architects had the old roof removed, the external walls extended up to the height of tended window surfaces, there is now a friendly-bright atmosphere where before it was
the adjacent constructed and added a new saddle roof. The façade with its typical closed dark. Due to the fact that the external construction as well – where the typical character
look and consisting of irregularly hammered granite blocks was continued. Meanwhile has been preserved – only subtly points to the interior new interpretation, in the village-
bricked-up chimney openings were opened again and replaced with window frames loo- scape the building now takes on the role of a city dweller having returned: not agreeing
king fire-red on the outside and pine shutters inside – or turned into niches. Additional in every particular with the predominant values but still optimally integrated in the com-
windows produce a varied incidence of light and at times dramatically illuminate the ex- munity. One can only report back to the Lisbon architects, for whom the remote location
posed brickwork. The architects had an enclosed, spatial structure independent of the of the project has been associated with major logistic challenges and time lags, that their
existing stock inserted: On a massive, red steel truss girder rests a mezzanine which com- effort has been worthwhile: In Aldeia de João Pires, they showed in an exemplary way
pletely restructures the space and expands the usable area to a total of 95 square metres. how deserted functional buildings in an aging, rural environment can be tactfully revita-
A loft-like living- and dining area is at the ground-floor level. An open kitchen, a jointly lized, rejuvenated and adapted with the use of traditional building materials.

112 • AIT 3.2021