Portuguese architect Carlos Castanheira has transformed an ageing stone cottage into a modern upside-down house.
Located on a farm in Famalicão, in Portugal's Braga region, the previously abandoned caretaker's cottage is now São Cosme House, a two-storey family home.
The house occupies a former caretaker's cottage that had been abandoned
Castanheira's renovation uncovers the original timber roof structure, adds a bedroom wing and gives the building an entirely new interior layout.
This upside-down layout places bedrooms and bathroom downstairs, freeing the upper level for an open-plan living and dining space with elevated views of the surrounding countryside.
The building is located on a steep slope
"The brief was relatively simple, but with a degree of complexity nonetheless," explained Castanheira. "This complexity was a result of the steep slope and because the various existing buildings were spread over different terraces."
Existing stone walls were in good condition
Castanheira chose to make many of the design decisions for São Cosme House on site rather than at the planning stage, so that he could adapt his ideas to fit the existing conditions of the building.
"That's how I like it to be and what makes it fun," he said.
The timber roof structure was uncovered
The decision to reveal the roof structure came after the old ceiling was removed and the eucalyptus wood beams were found to be in relatively good condition underneath.
Similarly,...