The Hidro-Electrica do Douro building renovation, commissioned to Cannatà & Fernandes attempts to return the building to the original situation, which it dates from the 50' of the last century.

After it has been abandoned for ten years, the restoration doesn't only try to return the building, as an architectural object, to the initial situation, it also attempts to update it to the new necessities: new lift, water, accessibility and facilities for the disabled, treatment of the furnitures...

It is treated of a careful and precise project which ends for transform the old hydroelectric into an elegant and new building.
 

Memory of project by Cannatà & Fernandes

The building, built as a guesthouse for the managers of hydroelectric Hidro-Electrica do Douro, between 1955 and 1958, is an example of a particular indentifying moment of the Superior School of Fine Arts of Porto’s production in the early 50s, during a period where the different disciplines and artistic elements such as architecture, design, landscape design, sculpture and painting, converge in the realization of the total work of art, a bahausian conception, from the spoon to the city.

The hostel’s building consists of two overlaping volumes of simple geometry, apparently without touching. An image of lightness and suspension of the higher volume is used to affirm the capacity of control of the technique through the use of pilotis and large glass surfaces on the ground floor. The ground floor volume contains the common areas and service areas.

The expansion of the hydroelectric power station, still in progress, has provided an opportunity to recover the building that was left abandoned for about 10 years.

The objectives set out in the project phase:


- Philological restoration of the architectural object in accordance with the original design;
- Restoration and reintegration of fixed and mobile furnishings;
- Integration of systems needed to ensure public use in accordance with regulations of elimination of architectural barriers; (lift, disabled toilets in public areas, room with accessibility and facilities for the disabled);
- Replacement and integration of plant networks (Electric, water, management, security, fire protection, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation, telephone and computer, etc.);
- Adaptation of the technical areas of service and storage to function as exhibition space and archive of documents related to the history of the construction of hydroelectric power plants on the river Douro.

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Architect
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Cannatà & Fernandes. Original project architect.- Rogério Ramos.
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Project Team
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Riccardo Cannatà, Dário Cannatà, Amaya Santirso, Bruno Silva, Luís Vale, Marta Lemos, Nuno Castro, Francisco Meireles, Joao Pedro Martins, Victor Correia.
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Collaborators
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Gop, Joao Maria Sobreira (structural engeneering), Gop, Raquel Fernandes (hydraulics), Get, Raul Bessa (mechanical engeneering), Ohm, Fernando Silva (electric engeneering), Inacoustics, Octávio Inácio (acoustics).
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Client
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EDP.
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Location
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Miranda do Douro, Portugal.
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Dates
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1999-2011.
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CANNATÀ & FERNANDES arquitectos Lda was founded in 2000 by FÁTIMA FERNANDES and MICHELE CANNATÀ. They have been working together since 1984, developing professional activity both in Portugal and Italy. They are the Scientific Coordinators of Architectural events at CONCRETA - EXPONOR since 1999. In 2003 they became the Scientific Coordinators in charge of ASA editions Architecture Department  and, in 2004 the scientific coordinators of the Architecture Department of CIVILIZAÇÃO editions.

Their works and projects have been presented in various individual and collective exhibitions, among which the Venice Biennial in 1996, and the Milan Triennial in 1997.

Their office develops architecture projects, town planning, design, graphic design and engineering services on subcontract conditions directly related to the architecture main activity. They also develop an important editorial activity through book edition, commissioning exhibitions and international seminars of architecture.

They have been invited by universities and cultural institutions to talk about their projects and to participate, while teachers, in several international seminar projects.

The office occupies a long narrowed lot, which is a characteristic of Oporto's urban mesh.  There used to be a house and an old factory now reconverted in the office. It is localized in the urban center of Porto in the Northern Coast of Portugal.

Six architects, three trainee architects and an assistant form the working team.

FÁTIMA FERNANDES was born in Bemposta, Mogadouro, Portugal, in 1961.

1979-1986. Studies in Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto where she graduates in Architecture.
1984. Does her traineeship in Italy, guided by prof. Arch. Manuel Mendes.
1990-1992. Becomes the Architect in charge of the Department for the Support of the Historic Center of Miranda do Douro.
Since 1996. Teacher of the Architecture Section (Architecture V) in Escola Superior Artística do Porto. ESAP.
2003. Begins her PhD attending the Escola Técnica Superior de Arquitectura da Universidade de Madrid.

MICHELE CANNATÀ was born in Polistena, Italy, in 1952.

1971-1977. Studies in Istituto Universitario Statale di Architettura di Reggio Calabria where he graduates in Architecture.
1978-1982. Works in Polistena City Hall, Italy, as principal architect.
1982. Attends "La Rinascita della Città" High Course in Bolonha, Italy.
1983-1984. Becomes assistant in the Faculty of Architecture of Reggio Calabria, Italy.
1993. Obtains the equivalence of his Academic title in the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto.
Since 1997. Teacher of the Architecture Section (Architecture IV) in Escola Superior Artística do Porto. ESAP.
2009. Doctorate in "Composizione Architettonica e Progettazione Urbana" in the University of Chieti-Pescara Italy, department  IDEA. Infrastrutture, Design, Engeneering Architecture.

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Michele Cannatà (1952) Polistena, Italy. Graduated from the Institute State University of Architecture of Reggio Calabria in 1977. Doctor in “Architectural and Urban Planning” in 2009. Since 1997 he is teacher of architectural design at ESAP (Escola Superior Artistica do Porto) and Director of the Department of Architecture in 2010/12.

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Fátima Fernandes (1961) Bemposta de Mogadouro, Portugal. Graduated from the Escola Superior de Belas Artes in Porto (ESBAP) in 1986, carrying out the professional training in Italy. Since 1996 she is teacher of Architectural Design at the School of Architecture of ESAP (Escola Superior Artística do Porto).

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