The Visitation Support Space project was developed based on an old primary school, more specifically a primary school from the Estado Novo years.

From a preliminary stage of the process, more specifically after the visit to the site, the need to maintain the pre-existence as much as possible was considered crucial, with the intended program for the building adapting to this space.
Therefore, there was a need to make some changes to the existing building. It was therefore proposed that some demolitions be carried out, namely the storage spaces, porches and sanitary facilities, these being clearly areas for expansions subsequent to the initial construction date of the building.

The demolitions did not compromise the historical and architectural character of the building. Therefore, it was decided to maintain all the stereotomy and materiality of the building and in the expansion to make a difference through the choice of materials, namely cork as the exterior covering with a pattern of different dimensions both in height and thickness. The choice of this material was also thought of as an allusion to the cork boards that were used in schools to display drawings, notices, attendance sheets, among other elements that were considered relevant at the time.

At a programmatic level, the proposal was designed as follows, the existing building housed the users’ private spaces (bedrooms and sanitary facilities on each side of the building, reception, access stairs and storage in the central space and on the 2nd floor, bedroom and storage also in on each side of the building), the building to be expanded but still “attached” to the existing building was placed the common space (leisure area) and in the other part to be expanded but separated by a glazed volume, the refectory and support sanitary facilities were designed. to the public, entrance area, cafeteria counter, kitchen and respective support compartments.

Being a building from the time of the Estado Novo, a symmetry was observed that marked both the main elevation and its division into “Male Sex” and “Female Sex”, a point that we found interesting to maintain, opting for maintain this division by placing the bedrooms (which function as dormitories, based on bunk beds) and the sanitary facilities for each gender, that is, each gender in a part of the building, with the reception as a “joint” connecting the spaces.

The bunk beds used are completely individual and have an independent light and electricity point.

The project sought to foster the relationship between users of the new space and the local community, through the improvement of the space to the north where there is a small volume for worship and the synergy of the building and the new outdoor spaces.

The architectural value of pre-existence was incorporated into the design of the new use. The functional conversion does not “erase” the memory of the existing building, but enhances its presence in the urban landscape. An old primary school is transformed into a multifaceted space with a project/work that aims to be the motto for the revitalization of an area/parish peripheral to the urban center of the municipality.

Despite the new use, the historical value has been preserved. The original property had its fundamental elements preserved, such as the main facade and its distribution.

Whether in the design or in the choice of materials, we tried to intervene in a simple and refined way. Formally, the proposal is based on a simple language using the smallest number of materials, with all the materials chosen being designed in a close relationship with the former use of the building.

PROJECT / CASA MP
LOCATION / ANDRÃES, VILA REAL
ARCHITECTURE / SFA – SÉRGIO FERREIRA ARCHITECTS
RESPONSIBLE ARCHITECT / SÉRGIO FERREIRA
CONSTRUCTOR / CCR CONSTRUÇÕES
CONSTRUCTION YEAR / 2018