BAIÃO COUNTRYSIDE HOUSE

The rehabilitation of two adjacent buildings in the rural village of Lavandeira, in Ancede — Baião, aims to transform two old mills into a unique accommodation unit. The two volumes, both with two floors and located facing the Óvil River, were in an advanced state of disrepair. The client's strategy involved their complete restoration, integrating them into the tourist complex as an autonomous entity, distinct from the other buildings.

The approach developed from the creation of an independent structure, where one of the buildings would be maintained as a living space – the heart of the complex – and the other would assume the complementary function of an intimate spa. Both are connected by an external passageway protected by a stone masonry wall, inspired by the pre-existing structure, and by a concrete porch.

In the main volume, a residential unit was designed, comprising a living room, compact kitchen, bathrooms, and a master suite with a privileged view of the river. The secondary volume functions entirely as a wellness area, equipped with an indoor pool and a customized HVAC system.

Beyond creating a truly unique living experience, the aim was to establish a new “visual communication” between spaces and volumes—something that didn't exist before and which, due to the way the whole complex functions, has become essential.

The functional distribution is clear: the private spaces are located on the upper floor; the common areas on the ground floor. The first floor integrates the bedroom with a bathroom in an open space, while the kitchenette and living room face west, articulating themselves as a link between the intimate and the social. On the lower floor there is a versatile chill-out area, suitable for multiple uses.

The stone walls were preserved, respecting their original logic, and the roof will be made with materials from the region. After reinforcing the foundations, a new concrete and steel superstructure will be erected, discreetly reinterpreting the profile of the old bungalows. The intervention adopts an architectural language capable of reconciling the past with the present, reinforcing the distinction between the two without losing the essential balance.