As far as the
the roof support is concerned, the architectonic and structural solution
found was to use pinewood roof truss in form of a triangle build in
the old fashioned way with metallic joints, hold by concrete colums
built on purpose. Thus avvoiding any resistent function of the external
walls, which is a fundamental condition to be able to use them again.
The reason we insist on using this kind of walls is they are made
of a material resistant to thermal bridges, offering great confort
at the inside, in winter as well as in summer. At the inside, the
existing box between the fibre-cement roof tiles and the roof truss
in form of a triangle were used to apply a thermal insultaion extruded
polyestirene, that was in turn covered with wood.
Details of the Cupboard/ wardrobe/bed. It was an architectonic
solution to try to concentrate these elements in only one place of
the house, so as to solve the problem of such limited space. And we
were able, in spite of the lack of space to provide for a kithchen
and large living-room and bedroom.
Another
architectonic solution, but in this case in order to try to solve
the luminosity and ventilation, was the introduction of small holes
with tilting glass brick windows.
Detail
of the inside of the kitchen. In this area near the new window (as
you can see), the typical double benches were introduced.
It was difficult
to find two old and symmetric stones to built the double benches.
So we built two new stones completely simmetric that were then aged.
The kitchen was decorated with handicraft and rustic tiles; the taps
were purchased, recuperated and then applied. Old stones were used
in the kithchen working bench. It is important to say that this kind
of adpatation of new furniture to relatively heavy and irregular stones
is not always easy to do. The external windows used follow the traditional
architecture and are made of painted wood. The wood used in these
cases is of extreme importance and is necessary to avvoid using woods
that are not fit for the outside.
Detail of the existing building for storage
and dog-house.
Detail of the rebuilding of the existing
shed covered with tiles, beign transformed into a study. We would
like to mention the way the design of the stone windows of the main
house were reproduced, now in mortar, whitewashed in the colour of
the foundation of the wall.
To use the proper materials in this kind
of rehabilitation is of extreme importance so as to be able to rehabilitate
without adulterating.
"Casas
de Portugal" Magazine - Photographer Nuno Martinho