Architecture studios of Filipe Pina and David Bilo were responsible for renovating the old "Casa da Chandeirinha" located in Cova da Beira, a small mountainous region in the town of Belmonte, Portugal. The objective of the project was to enhance the existing architectural, historical and landscape heritage by restoring the building and the historical landscape, without getting rid of the architectural character and natural values that previously remained in the place.

The project is conceived as a monument in tribute to nature and the well-being of the users, in the rural context, full of history and endless landscapes, of the region. The project is not only based on the main building, but also focuses on renovating old buildings in the surrounding area, transforming them into support equipment, providing the tourist complex with added value.
The Vagar, Country House, was designed by Filipe Pina and David Bilo, who made the decision to maintain the original configuration of the building, as well as the main granite masonry walls and the elements that characterize it. The project works on the old and "fragmented" roof, removing plaster, joints and cement walls, as well as other elements that remained in a state of degradation.

The vegetation was maintained both in the open spaces and in the building, in this way the original vernacular could be maintained, only enhanced with subtle interventions of a more contemporary nature. Therefore, the complex is renovated, providing it with conditions of habitability, comfort and well-being, maintaining the connection with the environment always present as a backdrop.


The Vagar, Country House by Filipe Pina and David Bilo. Photography by Ivo Tavares Studio.
 

Description of project by Filipe Pina and David Bilo

The aim of the project was to enhance the architectural, historical and landscape heritage existing in this small mountain region in the Portuguese countryside, named Cova da Beira, in the town of Belmonte. This was achieved through the restoration and preservation of the buildings and existing landscape, and by respecting their architectural character and natural values, allowing a renewal of the touristic purpose of the complex.

Thus, we created a project full of coexistence, integration and overlapping of memories, and where the past and legacy is not overlooked, but still converging towards the realization of a new equipment for Tourism in Rural Areas – Casa de Campo.


The Vagar, Country House by Filipe Pina and David Bilo. Photography by Ivo Tavares Studio.

The proposal aimed at recovering the former “Casa da Chandeirinha”, as well as changing some old buildings in its vicinity, by transforming them into support equipment and added value to this touristic complex. The intervention aimed at rehabilitating the complex, providing it with conditions of habitability, comfort and well-being, and guaranteeing an internal functional organization, with independent spaces for private use, and at the same time connecting (both physically and/or visually) the ever-present environment as a background of this renewed tourist resort.

In the main building, the original configuration was kept (implantation, height), as well as the main walls in granite masonry and the elements that characterize it, with only the reconfiguration of the old and "fragmented" roof, the removal of plasters, joints and cement walls, and other compositions that presented some level of degradation. The vegetation was also maintained, both in the immediate surroundings and in the building, so that this entire pre-existing body preserved the original vernacular, only enhanced with subtle interventions of a more contemporary nature, such as the introduction of elements in exposed concrete, thermo-treated wood and natural zinc plating.

In this rural context, full of history and endless landscapes, a space of tribute to nature and well-being was born.

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Architects
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fp-a.-Filipe Pina.
dbarquitectos.- David Bilo.
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Project team
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Inspection.- David Bilo.
Engineering.- José Carlos Cardoso Ferreira.
Landscape.- Ricardo Campos.
Illustrations.- André Teixeira.
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Collaborators
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Diana Cruz.
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Builder
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MPS.
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Area
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425.60 sqm.
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Dates
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2022.
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Location
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Serra da Esperança, Belmonte, Portugal.
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Manufacturers
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Taps.- OFA.
Electrical equipment.- Efapel.
Frames.- Anicolor.
Salamanders and recuperators.- Solzaima.
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Photography
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Filipe pina arquitectura is an architectural studio created by Filipe Pina in 2015, located in Guarda, in the interior of Portugal.
Their previous collaborations, both national and international, together with the different partnerships they initiated, allow them to undertake endeavours and challenges, regardless of their size and scale.

Their aim is to work on the borderline of the vernacular and the contemporary, trying to reflect local realities and experiencing people's daily lives. Turning these experiences into projects is the result of a constant intellectual search and a close relationship with their clients. Ultimately, the main result of his work is the execution of economical and sustainable buildings with the highest possible quality standards.

In 2014, with the JA House* project, he was shortlisted for DomusWeb's "Best of Architecture".
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David Bilo was born in the outskirts of Paris in 1984, he graduated in architecture at Darq (architecture department of the FCT Universidade de Coimbra) in 2009. He studied at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris La Villette from 2005 to 2006 as part of the Erasmus programme.

He participated in the winning project of the 2007 Universities Award at the Lisbon Triennale. In 2008, he was part of the team that won the local prize in the 18th Iberian Pladur Competition. In 2010 he did an internship at Atelier Celestino Pissarra Arquitetura lda, and in 2011 he did an internship at Atelier Terrafacil lda. In 2012 he started working as a freelance architect, as well as several collaborations with Filipe Pina Arquitectura.
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