Architecture

Tavira – Preservation in Renovation

View all 16 Photos

Preserving the natural beauty and native character of any home during a renovation can be a difficult undertaking. Let alone renovating an old home to meet modern living standards. However, the Portuguese architecture firm Atelier Rua has successfully accomplished just this. One of their most recent projects was renovating a rural estate near the city of Tavira, Portugal. The site, like others neighboring it, is destined to support agricultural activities in the rural region. For this program, Atelier Rua divided the longitudinal plot into two zones: one for the main house, and another that supports the agricultural annexes. Upon arrival to the site, one walks along a pathway lined with olive and carob trees. More fruit trees are planted in the southern, more private, region of the estate, embracing the home’s natural connection with the land. The main house was successfully renovated with the intent to preserve its original character by using traditional construction methods. The result is a beautifully simple all-white construction, with a natural reed-covered ceiling just as in the original house. Inside, a foyer, a kitchen, three living and dining rooms, and two bedrooms make up the estate. With patios, gardens, and a surround of mountains and valleys, Atelier Rua’s Tavira house feels like an agricultural resort nestled in the Portuguese countryside. Photography © Miguel Manso, Ana Paula Carvalho, Courtesy of Atelier Rua.

More for you

Frame House


Architecture

A contemporary house in the Hamptons, designed with a steel frame, generous glazing a…

Catskills Residence


Architecture

A wood-clad cabin purposefully designed to look at home in the breathtaking landscape…

Dar El Farina House


Architecture

A desert house designed with rammed earth walls and a linear sequence of living space…

Casa Coo


Architecture

A 1923 villa in Rome, reimagined as a contemporary living space with refined details …

The Hat House


Architecture

A wood cabin built in a birch forest clearing with views of mountains and a lake.
Na…

Oberwil House


Architecture

A sculptural concrete house nestled in a verdant neighborhood in Basel, Switzerland.

Around the world

Treehouse Villas, A Nature-Cen...


Around the World

Seven tree house villas in Bali nestled among lush vegetation on a sloping site that …

Ftelia Beach Club


Around the World

Italian design meets modernist vibes in a tranquil retreat by the sea in Greece.
Nes…

Pa.te.os, A stunning coastal r...


Around the World

Four concrete houses that invite guests to lose themselves in a spectacular coastal l…

Staff Picks

The CW&T M.R. Tape Dispenser

A Flax Hut Conversion In the Bavarian Alps

The Kudo Chair

House in Zbraslav

Stay Updated

FacebookPinterestRedditLinkedInEmailWhatsAppX