House in Torrão
Hotel 2024
Location
Torrão, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Collaboration
Fernando Ferrão, principal architect
Type
Private Commission
Status
Design Development, Ongoing
Size
228,00 M2
Torrão, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Collaboration
Fernando Ferrão, principal architect
Type
Private Commission
Status
Design Development, Ongoing
Size
228,00 M2
A House Reclaimed
Located in the village of Torrão, in the municipality of Alcácer do Sal, this project takes place within a landscape of strong rural identity, defined by simple volumes, traditional pitched roofs, and restrained façades typical of the Alentejo.
Starting from an existing set of buildings, the intervention sought to preserve the original volumes, the gable roofs, and all openings facing the street and narrow alley, maintaining the authentic character of the ensemble and ensuring its discreet integration within the village’s landscape context.
The proposal was developed in close collaboration with the owners, through a process of shared design decisions, aiming to create a quality rural accommodation — a house intended both as a local lodging and as a family retreat for those with roots in the region.
The layout follows a linear organization, with the bedrooms and main entrance facing north, connected by a corridor that leads southward to the living and kitchen area, which opens generously onto the garden patio. This outdoor space, conceived as the true heart of the house, is finished in compacted earth and gravel, designed to receive diverse tree planting that brings shade and freshness to the ensemble. A small pool and a covered veranda were added, providing shaded areas for outdoor living and dining.
In the existing annex, the project introduced an additional small suite, increasing the accommodation capacity and enhancing the flexibility of use.
Inside, the house maintains a bright and sober character, with white walls and a continuous coloured epoxy floor that unifies all spaces. The roof structure remains exposed, revealing the logic of the construction and highlighting the vernacular simplicity of the building. Wherever possible, the original roof tiles will be reused, lending the house a natural patina of time and reinforcing its integration into the local environment.
Ultimately, this is a project that seeks to balance memory and comfort, tradition and contemporaneity — a home designed both for family gatherings and for welcoming guests, embodying the serene and authentic spirit of the Alentejo.
Located in the village of Torrão, in the municipality of Alcácer do Sal, this project takes place within a landscape of strong rural identity, defined by simple volumes, traditional pitched roofs, and restrained façades typical of the Alentejo.
Starting from an existing set of buildings, the intervention sought to preserve the original volumes, the gable roofs, and all openings facing the street and narrow alley, maintaining the authentic character of the ensemble and ensuring its discreet integration within the village’s landscape context.
The proposal was developed in close collaboration with the owners, through a process of shared design decisions, aiming to create a quality rural accommodation — a house intended both as a local lodging and as a family retreat for those with roots in the region.
The layout follows a linear organization, with the bedrooms and main entrance facing north, connected by a corridor that leads southward to the living and kitchen area, which opens generously onto the garden patio. This outdoor space, conceived as the true heart of the house, is finished in compacted earth and gravel, designed to receive diverse tree planting that brings shade and freshness to the ensemble. A small pool and a covered veranda were added, providing shaded areas for outdoor living and dining.
In the existing annex, the project introduced an additional small suite, increasing the accommodation capacity and enhancing the flexibility of use.
Inside, the house maintains a bright and sober character, with white walls and a continuous coloured epoxy floor that unifies all spaces. The roof structure remains exposed, revealing the logic of the construction and highlighting the vernacular simplicity of the building. Wherever possible, the original roof tiles will be reused, lending the house a natural patina of time and reinforcing its integration into the local environment.
Ultimately, this is a project that seeks to balance memory and comfort, tradition and contemporaneity — a home designed both for family gatherings and for welcoming guests, embodying the serene and authentic spirit of the Alentejo.
