Eira House

The Challenge: From Ruin to Modern Refuge

The main challenge was preserving the essence and character of the 'Casa da Eira', integrated into a valuable landscape, while proceeding with its total renovation. It was crucial to inject new life into a degraded building, ensuring its structural stability and adaptation to a T1 housing programme with current comfort and energy efficiency standards. The intervention required a sensitive approach that could combine respect for the original architectural details with the introduction of contemporary technology and design.

Architectural Concept: Dialogue Between Old and New

The central project concept revolved around reinterpreting the space of the old threshing floor ('eira'). The perimeter previously defined by its support pillars gave way to a new Loggia, which expands from the living and dining room. This semi-open space functions as a fluid and essential transition between the house's interior environments and exterior leisure areas, inviting social interaction and landscape enjoyment. The architecture thus seeks a balance between the memory of the place and a new functional and aesthetic identity.

Spatial Organisation and Comfort Details

• Living and Dining Room: This central space benefits from zenithal lighting, provided by two 'Velux' type windows, one of them strategically placed on the ridge, which flood the environment with natural light.
• Transition Core: The staircase accessing the first floor (mezzanine) and the WC have been intelligently grouped into a core that transitions between the living room and the kitchen.
• Functional Kitchen: Designed with a dining area, the kitchen offers direct access to the exterior and a barbecue area, ideal for entertaining and equipped with all modern amenities.
• Mezzanine Bedroom: Developed above the kitchen/WC area, the bedroom is also illuminated by a 'Velux' window and integrates a lounge/office area adjacent to the staircase, offering a privileged view over the living room.
• Modern Equipment: The dwelling has been fitted with a Heat Recovery System and an Air-Conditioning network, ensuring thermal comfort in all seasons.

Every detail has been studied to create a welcoming and functional atmosphere, where modern life is integrated with respect for the original structure.

Thermal Performance and Character Preservation

The entire project was meticulously studied with the aim of equipping the building with its best thermal performance, utilising the most advanced construction techniques. However, the concern for energy efficiency did not forgo the maintenance of details that constitute the particular characteristics of the building at the time of intervention, such as the metal shutters. This approach ensures not only high interior comfort and optimisation of energy consumption but also the preservation of the identity and history of the Eira House in its rebirth.