Portugal’s Renovated Box House Reconciles the Old with the New

The old reconciles with the new in the renovation of Box House, a project headed by architect Tiago Souza in Romarigaes, Portugal. By inserting a contemporary volume within the ruins of a traditional Portuguese structure, Souza creates a head-turner of a home that explores the contrast between colors, materials and shapes.

The first floor is dominated by a spiral staircase made of concrete and wood, a sculptural element that separates the living and the dining areas. Warm wood floors and clean white walls are backdrop to the contemporary furniture that decorate the space. Sliding glass doors in the living area open up to property’s outdoor space, a stone-covered driveway with a small but sufficient garden space.

Two bedrooms are found on the second level, both equipped with sliding doors that open up to small balconies. Walls and doors sport slatted sapele wood cladding, creating an abstract surface that distinguishes it from the first floor.

An intriguing project that stands out in the neighborhood, the Box House fulfills Souza’s expectations of a rehabilitation project: something that “always represents the conflict between the memory of past experiences and the urges of contemporary living.”