A white spiral staircase that contrasts with the surrounding stone walls is a single of several modern interventions that architect Elisabete Saldanha has added to this converted farmhouse in Portugal .

The property and its former stables are positioned just outside the city of Guimarães, in a grove of oak, chestnut and cork trees.

Connected story: Correia/Ragazzi Arquitectos add curving white staircase to a remodelled Portuguese apartment

Elisabete Saldanha has transformed the building into a modern residence by way of a series of additions and upgrades.

“The plan was created to meet current demands while sustaining its original qualities,” mentioned Saldanha.

“All the historical elements of the building had been preserved and restored and even replicated, with a view to making an identity exactly where the duality amongst the past and the present coexist in the identical space.”

The original four-storey residence was constructed across a series of stepped terraces and Saldanha’s interventions have been developed to match in with the existing topology and optimise access to the gardens from the numerous levels.

The buildings form an L-shaped plan, flanking a lawn and a deck that continue about a swimming pool carved into a single of the terraced levels of the internet site. A portico extends from the house’s solid stone walls to signal the connection in between indoors and outdoors.

A driveway and turning location at the highest terrace give access to the house’s principal entrance and to a contemporary garage and workshop built in place of the original stables.

This creating retains the proportions of the old stables and incorporates classic characteristics such as the sloping tiled roof, but is rendered in a modern day smooth grey finish.

A timber-clad section that extends from 1 finish of the annex creates a frame for a big window by means of which the automobiles in the garage are displayed.

A grand staircase and porch protruding from one of the house’s elevations lead to the principal entrance, which opens into living spaces on two levels.

The spiral staircase with marble treads descends from a bright living area on the entrance level to a vaulted space under containing a billiards area.

This space adjoins a living area used as a music space and a bar. Both appear onto an indoor lap pool, framed by a curving timber wall.

Throughout the renovation, classic particulars like the stone walls and wooden wainscoting were retained exactly where attainable and complemented by modern day additions.

“On 1 hand there are components that preserve and recreate the building’s historical memory,” mentioned Saldanha, “while on the other hand minimalist traits that are identified with the new customers were assumed.”

“This outcomes in rich interior information and an interaction amongst the two languages without having providing up the essential user comfort,” she added.

This strategy is especially evident in the tower that rises from 1 corner of the home and consists of an workplace and library space on the best floor, above the living area.

A glazed staircase offers the principal circulation in the tower, generating a counterpoint to the stone and intricately carved wood.

Amongst the annex and the primary home, the paving is punctuated by round openings filled in with glazing, which create skylights in the ceiling of a subterranean garden.

Photography is by Fernando Guerra.

Project credits:

Architects: Elisabete de Oliveira Saldanha
Preparation of design work: Elisabete Saldanha, Filipe Santos, Paulo Castro
Furniture design: Elisabete Saldanha
Construction Business: Mota-Engil
Carpentry: MachadosL.da
Locksmiths:IRF Inacio Rosas e Filhos L.da
Stone: Peixoto e Antunes

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