The House in Silves by BOMO Arquitectos

The House in Silves project by BOMO Arquitectos, located in Portugal’s Algarve region, is a captivating example of how the past and present can merge to create a functional and rich space in history. This rehabilitation represents a reinvention of what was once a barn on a family farm, situated in the barrocal of the Algarve, an area celebrated for its orange groves and tranquil landscapes along the Arade River.

The House in Silves Technical Information

Architects^1-4: BOMO Arquitectos
Location: Silves, Portugal
Topics: Portuguese Houses
Area: 150 m²
Project Year: 2024
Photographs: © domalomenos

This is a rehabilitation work on what was once a barn, located on a family farm, in a small valley in the region of Algarve known as barrocal, in the southern coast of Portugal.

– BOMO Arquitectos

The House in Silves Photographs

The Transformation of a The Silves Barn into a Modern Home

The project site, encased in the embrace of the Monchique mountain range and the coastal plains, holds a two-story agricultural building at its core, originally constructed at the beginning of the 20^th century. Once fragmented into three dark, disconnected rooms, the building has been transformed into a unified living space that respects its rural heritage while embracing contemporary living standards.

The architects at BOMO Arquitectos, led by Irene Bonacchi and Filipe Moreira, faced the challenge of merging these segmented spaces across two levels. On the ground floor, a harmonious social area now exists, comprising a living room, dining area, kitchenette, bedroom, and bathroom. The upper floor hosts a spacious bedroom on a mezzanine that overlooks the living area, with the historic exterior staircase reimagined as a balcony offering sweeping views of the valley.

Lighting the Past, Building the Future

A defining moment in the building’s history, the 1969 earthquake, led to the collapse of its upper part. The reconstruction that followed used industrial pierced bricks, a stark contrast to the original irregular stone. The current renovation project embraced this duality as a core theme, revealing the stone on the ground floor and contrasting it with the smooth plastered brick walls above. This decision highlights the building’s resilience and weaves the earthquake’s legacy into the house’s fabric.

The introduction of natural light was essential. The architects ingeniously increased it by incorporating tall windows and glazed exterior doors, thereby solving the historic issue of darkness within the space. The choice of materials pays homage to local craftsmanship, with handmade terracotta tiles and pine woodwork reflecting the region’s traditions.

The restoration and reinterpretation of traditional elements, such as the terracotta tiles and the stone and brick masonry, demonstrate a profound respect for the original architecture and the natural landscape.