Miragaia Residential Complex | Menos é Mais Arquitectos
The XIII century building, with a facade of great architectural value, is composed of 4 floors and the top floor is a ruin. The interior is partially destroyed leaving only the facade. The proposal contemplates the consolidation of the main ruin facade. The top floor is rebuilt with contemporary lightweight materials because of the difficulty of replacing the existing stonework with certain wear and tear of the time.
© José Campos
The neutral and abstract character of the volumes allows detaching the existing buildings and richness of the stonework that they contain. We choose a floor distribution in the gallery following the tradition of using the exterior surroundings. The buildings open themselves to the hill, forcing an urban life and a great ambiguity between public and private spaces. The interiors are organized to the best possible orientation – north, south. Therefore, the distribution gallery is presented at the north as well as the rooms. Every living room is oriented to the southwest. The new buildings start from the presupposition of a coincidence between construction and composition.
© José Campos
The facade reflects and is evidence of the lot´s narrow subdivision. The new buildings would be built in reinforced concrete. Local light materials would be used like wood, iron, slate, corrugated sheet, tile in the fill of the vain and gables treatment. The building both neutral and silent, to evidence the set where it’s inserted, with no language, no time…
© José Campos
© José Campos
Project Info
Architects: Menos é Mais Arquitectos
Area: 1541 m²
Year: 2018
Country: Oporto, Portugal
Photographs: José Campos
Manufacturers: Carpintaria Miguel Batista
Lead Architects: Francisco Vieira de Campos, Cristina Guedes
Electrical Engineering: Afaconsult – Engineering Projects
Mechanical Engineering: Enescoord – Coordenação e Gestão de Projectos e Obras Lda
Design Team: Cristina Maximino, Gonçalo Castro, Inês Mesquita, Ricardo Medina, José Pedro Rocha, Ines Marinho Batista, Adrián Sifres Ortega, Cláudia Costa
Hidraulic: Fernanda Valente
Structures: Eulália Soares
Electrical: Maria da Luz Santiago
Security: Afaconsult
Mechanical: André Borges
Client: VontadExpressa Promoção e Gestão Imobiliária Lda.
Safety & Security: Maria Da Luz Santiago
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.