Early twentieth century Bourgeois House in Porto wins twenty-first century award

The renovation and remodelling works, including the interior fitting-out of the Casa António Patrício, in Porto has earned the in vitro Atelier the National Award for Urban Rehabilitation 2019, in the category Under 1000 square metres, in an urban context.

Joana Leandro Vasconcelos and Mafalda Cabeleira, architects at the in vitro Atelier, also headquartered in Porto, have renovated a "typical bourgeois House of the early twentieth century in Porto".

The challenge was to transform, whilst maintaining the original elements, the three levels house, a lengthy and narrow lot, with two facades and a garden at the rear. The aim was reshaping the house to the contemporary needs of a twenty-first century family.

The refurbishing works maintained the strong luminosity and the use of materials such as wood; in fact, the architects have chosen to cover the façade in wood as the original elements were no longer viable.

"We try to rehabilitate when it is doable, and when the characteristics of the elements are worth preserving", stated Joana Leandro Vasconcelos to Publico newspaper.

Joana's work had already been awarded for a rehabilitation project in Porto, the Casa da Boavista in 2017, which was granted the João Almada prize.