Historic Palace Office in Porto

Location
Porto, Portugal

Area
347m²

Completion
2023

Status
Completed

Client
Private

Office

This project rehabilitates a historic palace in Porto, located on a 1050 m² plot. The intervention included restoring the existing building and adding a new garage to the north. Core principles included heritage preservation, functional adaptation, and sustainable urban integration. Originally a single–family home from the early 20th century, the building later became office space, undergoing several alterations that compromised its architectural integrity. The project aimed to recover original features—windows, shutters, ceilings, doors—while integrating modern infrastructure for comfort and energy efficiency. All systems—plumbing, electricity, telecoms, HVAC—were upgraded, with technical elements discreetly embedded. The garden preserves native species and incorporates sustainable irrigation and lighting. The new garage uses low–impact materials and passive systems, harmonizing with the original palace. The project demonstrates that sustainable heritage renewal can balance past, present, and future.