Experimental

Located in an area of significant dynamism and urban transformation, the proposal is situated at a point of transition between two contrasting urban fabrics — one of industrial character, the other a consolidated residential grid. This morphological and functional duality forms the project’s core premise.

Beyond its urban context, the site holds a relevant heritage dimension: the presence of ruins from former warehouses. These are not monumental structures, but material traces of labour and the pragmatic, functional construction of everyday life. This condition provides the project with a grounded and tangible starting point, enabling an approach rooted in both continuity and transformation.

The proposal seeks to consciously and carefully articulate different scales, uses, and temporalities. It introduces a new construction phase that is clearly contemporary, yet complementary to the pre-existing structures — neither replicating nor erasing them. Continuity is embraced through difference.

At the heart of the intervention lies the rehabilitation of the existing warehouse walls, which are preserved and reinterpreted. What once served as a boundary between public and private space is now redefined as a mediating element. These walls now articulate transitions between varying degrees of public exposure — on one side, the street and urban fabric; on the other, entrance courtyards and semi-private communal areas.

In this way, the new housing complex on Rua do Beato emerges as a contextual and sensitive response, integrating ruin, city, and dwelling into a coherent and operative system.