Casa da Ribeira de Cima

The intervention is located in the village of Maxial, in the municipality of Ansião, central Portugal. The urban center is sparsely populated, predominantly residential, surrounded by agricultural and forest land. The site is located on the outskirts of the village, in an area with low building density, and has a pre-existing structure: a small ruin of traditional design, consisting of one floor and a basement, with limestone walls, typical of the region.

The façade of the ruin evokes the archetypal image of a house: a gabled roof, a central door, and two windows. The grounds are spacious, bordered by dense vegetation, including oak and olive trees, and feature a well that is still in use.

Located in a RAN (National Agricultural Reserve) zone, the project is subject to restrictions: the increase in construction area is limited to 50% of the gross area of the ruin. Therefore, it was decided to rehabilitate the existing building and add an attached volume.

The original volume houses the private area of the house, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-plan attic. The new volume houses the social area, with an open-plan living room and kitchen with double-height ceilings. A staircase leads to a mezzanine with a workspace and guest bathroom.

Both volumes are joined by a wooden deck that also partially surrounds them, creating an elevated outdoor area for socializing and contemplating the landscape.

The project seeks to preserve the image of the ruin as much as possible, maintaining it as the main element of the house. The new volume, inspired by local agricultural sheds, adopts a discreet language: simple form and green metal sheet cladding, allowing it to blend into the terrain and enhance the pre-existing structure through contrasting juxtaposition.