Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro Project: Rethinking Residential Unit Distribution and Courtyard Interaction
Location and Size
The intervention area is situated on a plot of approximately 1,060 square meters, featuring a strategic location overlooking Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro. The plot contains an existing building and an extended structure within the site, reflecting clear industrial characteristics.
Main Structure and Building
The main building facing the street consists of four floors, one of which utilizes rooftop space. As the building extends eastward, the number of floors decreases to three. This height gradient contributes to spatial organization and provides a visual transition on the façade.
Courtyard and Open Spaces
Industrial structures dominate most of the courtyard area, leaving only a small portion open. Despite their limited size, these open spaces play an important role in natural ventilation and daylighting, influencing the experience of both interior and exterior spaces.
Intervention Objective and Redistribution
The proposal focused on reorganizing the entire internal courtyard by demolishing existing structures and impermeable flooring, and leveraging the main buildings’ volume to accommodate a residential program consisting of 14 units. The project also introduced a recessed new floor, clad in pre-oxidized anthracite zinc with concealed fasteners, designed to distinguish it from the pre-existing structure.
Utilization of High Ceilings
The high ceilings in the original building allowed for the insertion of a mezzanine floor within the original volume. This modification was only visible on the façades facing the internal courtyard, preserving the building’s harmony with its surrounding environment.
Preservation of the Historic Façade
For the units overlooking Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro, the original number of floors was retained out of respect for the façade’s design. The intervention included cleaning and restoring stone and iron elements, as well as tiles, some of which are among the oldest in the city of Porto. It is noteworthy that these tiles were studied in the doctoral thesis of researcher Ana Margarida Portela Domingues, titled “A Ornamentação Cerâmica na Arquitectura do Romantismo em Portugal”, highlighting their historical and cultural significance.
Impact of the Additional Floor on the Façade
The addition of another floor at the rear half of the main building led to noticeable changes on the façade. These modifications underwent a careful design exercise and a thoughtful selection of materials, aiming to preserve the characteristics of the original architectural language and enhance a coherent visual connection with the main façade.
Contemporary Design of the Extended Volume
Conversely, a clean and contemporary design was adopted for the volume extending toward the northern courtyard, avoiding any conflict with the traditional façade of the main building. This contrast between traditional and contemporary styles reflects the designers’ commitment to integrating modernity while respecting architectural heritage.
Courtyard Layout and Green Spaces
Regarding the courtyard, emphasis was placed on enhancing green areas, creating private patios and pathways leading to the communal courtyard, alongside private parking spaces. This arrangement balances practical and aesthetic functions, providing a comfortable and seamless living environment for the building’s residents.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro project can be considered an example of attempting to integrate contemporary architectural modifications within the context of an existing building, while preserving the historical elements of the street-facing façade. Among the positive aspects, attention is noticeable in organizing the courtyard and introducing green spaces, as well as utilizing the high ceilings to insert a mezzanine floor in a manner that does not affect the traditional façade, reflecting an awareness of visual hierarchy and the building’s dialogue with its urban surroundings.
However, the project raises some questions regarding the effectiveness of redistributing residential units within the existing structure, particularly given the limited open spaces in the internal courtyard. Despite the efforts to preserve the industrial character and the historic façade, the introduction of the recessed new floor and the contemporary extended volume may create a certain visual disconnect between the front and rear floors, posing a challenge regarding the internal layout’s harmony with residents’ needs.
It is also notable that the focus on aesthetic elements, such as pre-oxidized zinc and historic tiles, may not be sufficient to ensure a high-quality daily living experience, especially given the courtyard’s spatial constraints and the limited pathways. From a practical architectural perspective, the project remains an opportunity to study the impact of modern interventions on existing buildings and to understand how to achieve a balance between heritage preservation and meeting contemporary residential requirements, lessons that can be applied to similar rehabilitation projects in the future.
