Casa Rio: A Modern Take On A Portuguese Farmhouse

This contemporary farmhouse is a remodel of a derelict one, which was built in rural Portugal

This contemporary farmhouse is a remodel of a derelict one, which was built in rural Portugal

Studio Paulo Merlini architects introduces an architectural revitalization with its Casa Rio within the Portuguese town of Gondomar. The dwelling stands as a renovation and remodel of an derelict farmhouse which celebrates the rural language of the city. While deconstructed the preexisting condition, removing the damaged materials from the old facade, the design team discovered that the house was actually made up of three small volumes, built according to the needs of the former owner.

Upon stripping the former farmhouse into its three volumes, Paulo Merlini architects developed a premise for the design of its Casa Rio. The team seeks to maintain the structure of the original volumes and assume their original shape uncovered. These volumes are newly unified through a central patio, perforated so as to flood the social area below with natural light. Stepping stones are intermingled with skylights to produce a diverse, pixelated effect. The green roof finish which covers this central slab offers a new and intimate garden accessed by each room and private area of the house.

With the material palette, Paulo Merlini architects generates a strong contrast between the two floors of its Casa Rio. The ground floor is expressed with a rougher materiality to offer a cavernous atmosphere and the sensation of living inside an excavated granite mass. This ground floor maintains an immediate dialogue with the exterior space. along the upper floor, the geometries of the three original volumes are emphasized with their expression as pure white forms, filled with light. Here the wooden shutters and the wooden floors recall the feeling of a typical Portuguese country house.

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This is how the house looks from above - it was stripped to three volumes with the same base but a new top

This is how the house looks from above - it was stripped to three volumes with the same base but a new top

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The house has two levels and both of them feature some plants and pebbles

The house has two levels and both of them feature some plants and pebbles

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There's a garden path on the second level, too, to imitate a garden better

There's a garden path on the second level, too, to imitate a garden better

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The modern volumes are sleek white, with large windows and glass doors

The modern volumes are sleek white, with large windows and glass doors

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The second level features masonry, there's a large terrace surrounded with greenery

The second level features masonry, there's a large terrace surrounded with greenery

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Contemporary geometric volumes and sharp angles give a more modern feel to the space

Contemporary geometric volumes and sharp angles give a more modern feel to the space

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The spaces can be opened to outdoors easily via glass sliding doors, inside you may see the same stone

The spaces can be opened to outdoors easily via glass sliding doors, inside you may see the same stone

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a sunken living room is a stylish solution for this remodel

a sunken living room is a stylish solution for this remodel

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The space is also connected to outdoors a lot - there are glass walls

The space is also connected to outdoors a lot - there are glass walls

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The dining space is all minimal, with built-in benches and a table and a stone lit up wall

The dining space is all minimal, with built-in benches and a table and a stone lit up wall

Source: designboom