Casa do Engenho, a project by Silverline and photographed by Ivo Tavares, is the transformation of an 18th-century agricultural outbuilding into a contemporary family home. Located in Vila Nova de Gaia (Portugal), the intervention reflects a commitment to continuity, memory, and renewal, serving as the family’s main residence while honoring its historic roots.
Family-Centric Design
The project was initiated as the family entered a new phase of life, aiming to preserve the estate’s legacy while adapting it for modern living. The close relationship between the clients and architects, long-time friends, enabled the design to be deeply informed by the family’s values of care, preservation, and respect for heritage. The owner’s active involvement and on-site supervision were crucial in achieving a result that balances tradition and innovation.
Architectural Intervention to a Firenze Residence
The intervention focused on a two-storey volume at the center of the property, part of a larger complex comprising the main residence, cultivation areas, and ancillary buildings dating to the early 20th century. The exterior’s structural integrity and architectural expression were preserved, with the façade reorganized and new shutters introduced for enhanced light management and comfort round up the scope of this Firenze residence.
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Spatial Transformation
Prior to the renovation, the building’s rigid, compartmentalized layout limited both functionality and daylight. The redesign replaced fragmentation with an integrated, welcoming spatiality. The ground floor now features a continuous social area, living, dining, and kitchen, unified by wood finishes for warmth and visual flow. Sliding wooden panels allow flexible separation between the kitchen and living areas, adapting to the family’s needs. Additional spaces include a laundry, pantry, service bathroom, garage, and a main suite with walk-in closet, bathroom, and spa area opening to the outdoors.
Contemporary Interior Identity
The upper floor houses two suites and a spacious lounge, each with balcony access. The pitched roof, fitted with skylights, ensures ample natural light and extends to form a covered outdoor area for open-air living and solar protection. The rehabilitated staircase, with stone at its base and wood above, serves as both a functional and sculptural centerpiece, linking public and private zones.
Materiality and Light
Natural materials establish continuity with the estate’s history, while the interior’s openness and fluidity foster a seamless relationship between inside and out. The design enhances visual permeability and maximizes west-facing light, creating a luminous, inviting environment.
Renewed Role and Legacy
Following the intervention, Casa do Engenho is no longer a secondary space but stands as the primary home for the family. The project safeguards the memory of the place while infusing it with renewed purpose and vitality, ensuring the estate’s legacy endures for future generations.
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Photography Ivo Tavares ivotavares.com
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