Alfeição Casinha
The refurbishment of a house in the hills above Loulé in the Algarve.
The building is reworked to create a more open and sociable plan, with a new living and dining space forming the centre of the house. Wall panelling establishes a consistent datum around the interior, integrating storage and display within the kitchen and living areas. The intervention is restrained, allowing the character of the existing structure to remain legible while improving its use and clarity.
The house is refurbished using local natural materials, including Portuguese limestone, clay tiles and clay plaster, alongside new oak-framed windows, rafters and joinery. This palette reinforces the connection between the building and its setting, giving the interior a consistent and durable character.
Externally, an existing outdoor space is extended to form part of a series of terraces stepping down the hillside, linking the house into the wider landscape. Low-impact systems, including well-sourced water, ground source cooling, photovoltaics and battery storage, support a low-energy approach. The house forms part of the wider Alfeição estate project, which brings together a number of buildings and outdoor spaces into a coherent whole.