monte dos judeus (Oitoo)

A ruin and a romantic garden lay dormant within a property in the heart of Porto, overlooking the Douro River.

A careful reading of the site’s specific character and hidden qualities allowed us to preserve them and use them as catalysts for the project. The intervention on this venerable site unfolded in three stages: the restoration of the existing structure, its reconstruction, and its extension. Along the way, the romantic garden was revived, returning to its former spirit. A seamless extension added density and stabilised the original building, and a new pavilion created a sheltered patio for the residents while opening onto the garden.

The project seeks a renewed sense of unity, in which old and new are not perceived in opposition but as the convergence of inherited qualities and calm, measured additions. The new should not immediately reveal itself as new; the old should be restored without losing its charm. In time, old and new become simply parts of a whole—distinguishable only to the attentive eye, which will find pleasure in uncovering where one ends and the other begins.