A Portuguese Stone Home with a Modern Twist

April Kennedy April Kennedy
Casa JA - Casa moderna com presença do passado, FPA - filipe pina arquitectura FPA - filipe pina arquitectura Corredores, halls e escadas minimalistas
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This modern home was created from a new concrete construction and the stone ruins of a traditional house in north-central Portugal. The point of tension here is clearly the meeting point between old and new, urban and rural. This intersection or meeting point is where the architects Filipe Pina and Maria Ines Costa have chosen to make their statement.

This area acts as the entrance to the home, a staircase and central courtyard. It introduces a large amount of light to both sides of the home and exhibits a seamless fusion of materials. Steel, stone, concrete and glass are carefully interwoven to create a very unique space.

So come with us on a photo tour of this cleverly designed Portuguese home for more details.

Facade of old and new

One facade is stone, the other concrete and they are joined by floor to ceiling glass. While the facades of both buildings are completely different, similar heights, scale and unbroken lines ensure there are fluid lines connecting the two structures.

At first the stone building on the right appears completely traditional, but then the transparent glass balconies on the upper floors become apparent and we have but a hint of the interesting interior.

Glass entrance and connecting space

The entrance to the home offers a good base of reference for the interior layout. On the left we see the newer construction and on the right, we have a stone-wall. The floor-to-ceiling glass entrance gives little hint of the clever design inside.

Courtyard view

Inside the courtyard and looking up past the white walls, we can see the open roof and source of all this light. The vast glass wall of the stairwell on the left rises up to roof of the living area on the second floor. The two other windows take in extra light to the rest of the home.

Stone stairwell

On entering the home we come to the staircase and connecting area. From the modern side of the home we can see an old stone-wall and the modern wooden staircase with steel rods for support. The soft curves of the old stone are radically different from the sharp lines of the staircase. But the vestibule is held together by the common golden, colour scheme of the natural materials.

Glassy stairwell

Turning to the other side, we can see the modern side of the stairwell. The wooden staircase itself is very simple and light. Here we can also see the abundant light coming in from the glassed-off courtyard. A series of windows puncture the courtyard and allow us a contrasting peek of the natural stone wall outside.

Stone passageway

This connecting passage beautifully fuses the unusual combination of old and new. We have a wood floor, white walls, stone-walls and a steel bannister. As with the stairwell, these disparate elements are held together by a minimalist approach and the natural warmth of timber integrating with the warm golden stone wall.

Living room with old and new elements

The living room possesses a simple minimalist decor, large, wood-fired combustion fireplace white walls and a view of the older-style wooden door and stone wall. On the left, we can see a peek of the glass wall on the left that leads to the courtyard. This living area may be relatively small, but it's bathed in light and feels very spacious.

Modern kitchen area

This white and pale grey kitchen has all the conveniences and streamlined finishes of a contemporary home. There are white sliding kitchen cabinets on the lower wall, but no cabinets on the upper walls. This helps maintain the light, airy and spacious feeling of the home. In delightful contrast, we see an old wooden door and soft golden stone wall in the background.

Stone minimalist corridor

For our final photo, we come to one of the stone and white walled corridors connecting this unique home. The thick slabs of the old stone walls are in marked contrast to the rest of the space. And yet, as with the rest of this modern home, the materials just seem to work together.

If you are interested in stone constructions and restorations, you'll love this Ideabook An Italian rural getaway.

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