São Brás House
A large former stable, now in a state of disrepair, marked the starting point for this private residential project. The existing ruin possessed a unique atmosphere — somewhere between the rural and the industrial — which we sought to preserve and reinterpret. The aim was to transform this agricultural structure into a spacious single-family home, while maintaining its intrinsic character and reinforcing its relationship with the surrounding idyllic landscape.
Rather than expanding the building, the proposal intentionally reduces its built footprint. Parts of the roof were removed to create private outdoor patios for the bedrooms and a larger courtyard for the social areas. This gesture not only brings light and air into the heart of the house but also decreases the total gross floor area and construction index. The original volume and overall height were respected, maintaining the horizontal lines and proportion of the existing structure.
Subtle yet essential changes were introduced to the façades to enable the creation of brighter, healthier, and more functional interiors. Inside, the layout is organized into two distinct wings: to the south, a series of ten bedrooms are arranged along a central corridor. Each room is equipped with an en-suite bathroom and a private patio, offering both privacy and natural light.
To the north, the social spaces unfold around an internal courtyard, fostering a strong connection between the kitchen, dining, and living areas. A service block to the east links the main entrance to the kitchen through a secondary circulation route, integrating auxiliary spaces and a staircase leading down to a basement level with technical facilities.
Outside, the intervention focused on enhancing vehicular access from both ends of the plot through the introduction of a dry floor system to facilitate movement and access. In addition, a new solarium terrace with a swimming pool was proposed at the highest point of the site, offering panoramic views over the landscape.
As a whole, the project seeks to rehabilitate the building with care and intention, promoting a renewed and balanced relationship between architecture, memory, and land.
Project: São Brás House
Typology: Private house
Year: 2023 / 2024
Location: : São Brás – S. Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal)
Surface: 589 m2
Team: Joana de Oliveira, Giacomo Mezzadri, Sabrina Sinelli
Renders: Rendergram
São Brás House
A large former stable, now in a state of disrepair, marked the starting point for this private residential project. The existing ruin possessed a unique atmosphere — somewhere between the rural and the industrial — which we sought to preserve and reinterpret. The aim was to transform this agricultural structure into a spacious single-family home, while maintaining its intrinsic character and reinforcing its relationship with the surrounding idyllic landscape.
Rather than expanding the building, the proposal intentionally reduces its built footprint. Parts of the roof were removed to create private outdoor patios for the bedrooms and a larger courtyard for the social areas. This gesture not only brings light and air into the heart of the house but also decreases the total gross floor area and construction index. The original volume and overall height were respected, maintaining the horizontal lines and proportion of the existing structure.
Subtle yet essential changes were introduced to the façades to enable the creation of brighter, healthier, and more functional interiors. Inside, the layout is organized into two distinct wings: to the south, a series of ten bedrooms are arranged along a central corridor. Each room is equipped with an en-suite bathroom and a private patio, offering both privacy and natural light.
To the north, the social spaces unfold around an internal courtyard, fostering a strong connection between the kitchen, dining, and living areas. A service block to the east links the main entrance to the kitchen through a secondary circulation route, integrating auxiliary spaces and a staircase leading down to a basement level with technical facilities.
Outside, the intervention focused on enhancing vehicular access from both ends of the plot through the introduction of a dry floor system to facilitate movement and access. In addition, a new solarium terrace with a swimming pool was proposed at the highest point of the site, offering panoramic views over the landscape.
As a whole, the project seeks to rehabilitate the building with care and intention, promoting a renewed and balanced relationship between architecture, memory, and land.
Project: São Brás House
Typology: Private house
Year: 2023 / 2024
Location: : São Brás – S. Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal)
Surface: 589 m2
Team: Joana de Oliveira, Giacomo Mezzadri, Sabrina Sinelli
Renders: Rendergram
