JERONIMO HOUSE
The project is located within a property in the Douro region – Resende - an area known for its vineyard landscape.
The property includes several buildings that require intervention. The program aimed to restore one of these structures into a holiday house. During the survey, we identified a ruin: an ancient granite wall was the only thing that has withstood the passage of time. Over the centuries, human intervention has transformed the landscape by erecting granite walls to form terraces and flat areas for vine cultivation, shaping a striking beautiful landscape. Often architecture stands out as a discordant element in this magnificent setting.
The project is centered around a concrete volume, an abstract element derived from the ancient farm footprint, and a hypogeal construction. The interaction between the two structures creates new interstitial spaces and areas that explore the concept of interior – exterior, transforming the granite wall into an element that encloses a garden.
A granite rock emerged during the construction invited us to modify the project and abandon the original idea of a partially underground architecture. Volumes were detached from the natural boundaries creating more enclosed spaces.
The pink pigmented concrete establishes a new relationship with the surroundings. The use of this colour belongs to the chromatic tradition of many surrounding architectures, complementing the green of the vineyard. The house spans two floors. Social spaces (including a kitchen and living room) are situated on the ground floor while three bedrooms and a library on the upper floor. In the spaces between the built volumes, trees and climbing plants will naturally grow, marking the rhythm of the seasons and modulating natural light.
