House Costa
Year: 2019 - 2020
Gross Floor Area: 287 m²
Location: Rua da Costa, Vila do Conde, Porto - Portugal

Located in Vila do Conde, in the north of Portugal, the refurbished building originally formed part of two XVII-century houses belonging to the historic “Casa da Roda dos Expostos”, an institution that sheltered abandoned children. Over the centuries, the houses underwent multiple alterations and, by the late 20th century, had lost their habitable conditions.

With this legacy in mind, the project focused on preserving the memory of the place and its traditional construction methods, avoiding unnecessary formal modernity. The intervention aimed to rebuild discreetly, improving comfort and performance while maintaining as much of the existing structure as possible.

The granite façade, wooden frames and two-level layout (plus a small third-floor ‘torreão’) were restored. The ground floor now houses the garage, entrance and storage, while the first floor contains the living areas and two bedrooms. The top floor accommodates an office.

Exterior elements were preserved or rebuilt—granite stonework cleaned, iron balustrades restored, windows redesigned for double glazing, and the oak roof structure insulated and finished with traditional tiles. Inside, original atmospheres and features such as wooden stairs, floors, doors and stone details were retained. Neutral tones and skylights enhance the light, and freestanding wardrobes divide spaces without losing openness.

Through subtle and careful interventions, the project respects the building’s history while bringing it comfortably into the present.