- Project: RPFV House
- Architect: NOARQ
- Location: Portugal, Santo Tirso
- Year: 2019
- Area: 643 m2
- Photography: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
In the rolling landscapes of Santo Tirso, Portugal, the RPFV House by NoArq stands as a striking blend of past and present. This three-story contemporary residence rises from the ruins of a demolished home, transforming layers of memory and material into a minimalist, concrete-and-slate dwelling that harmonizes with farmland while asserting a bold architectural identity.
Site & Context: Building on Ruins
The RPFV House occupies a 1,697 m² plot defined by steep west–east slopes and agricultural reserve lands. Of this expanse, only 600 m² could be built on, while the remainder was preserved farmland. The original property consisted of a stone house, threshing floor, and granary, characterized by schist walls and slate coverings.
NoArq’s strategy preserved the essence of the site while reinterpreting its material language. By retaining lower walls and slate slabs, the new residence creates dialogue between old foundations and contemporary living spaces. The new volumes do not impose an urban frontage but instead embrace the morphology of the land, nestling into the terrain and extending toward the farmland.
Architectural Concept: Layers of Time and Material
The new residence unfolds across 643 m² over three levels, each with distinct purposes yet bound by material continuity. Constructed entirely of reinforced concrete and clad in dark slate, the house feels both timeless and rooted in its geological context.
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Ground Floor (Level -2, below street): Once a cellar, now reimagined as a social hub. Patios channel light and air into living and dining spaces, uniting the new with traces of the old.
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First Floor (Level -1, mezzanine): The daily heart of the home. Here, a covered parking connects to the kitchen via corridor, while living spaces open to a generous patio.
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Second Floor (Street Level): Reserved for private retreats. Bedrooms and bathrooms open onto views of the farmland and the horizon. The flat roofs extend as terraces, transforming rooftops into outdoor esplanades.
This layered organization balances public, semi-private, and private zones, reflecting contemporary domestic life while respecting the traditional hierarchy of rural homes.
Materials & Atmosphere
Materiality anchors RPFV House in both past and place:
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Schist & Granite: The old house’s lower walls were preserved, grounding the new construction in the stone terraces of the landscape.
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Slate: Dark, weathered slate clads the reinforced concrete, creating a mass that feels both monumental and discreet.
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Concrete: Modern and structural, yet softened by the textures of stone and slate, offering durability and permanence.
Inside, natural light cuts through courtyards and voids, animating the weight of the materials. The dark exterior mass opens into luminous interiors that shift in tone as daylight filters through.
Living Experience
The RPFV House is designed for fluid transitions between indoors and outdoors. Social spaces on the lower levels spill into shaded patios, while bedrooms above open to terraces facing the agricultural reserve. Every level offers framed encounters with the landscape:
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A sunlit patio on the ground floor recalls the cellar’s origins.
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The first floor balances protection with openness, centering around the main family patio.
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The second floor captures sweeping views, offering terraces that act as extensions of the horizon.
This spatial choreography transforms the house into a living continuum, linking memory, landscape, and daily life.
Sustainability & Regional Identity
By reusing structural stone and slate, NoArq minimized waste and rooted the project in local craft traditions. The house embraces passive strategies: patios for ventilation, terraces for shading, and orientation toward natural light. Rather than erasing the past, the design amplifies it, creating an architecture of continuity.
Why RPFV House Stands Out
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Rooted in History: A home built literally on the ruins of its predecessor, blending memory with modernity.
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Material Narrative: The contrast of slate, schist, and concrete grounds the project in Portuguese identity.
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Topographic Integration: The design negotiates a steep slope and agricultural reserve with elegance.
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Experiential Layers: From cellar patios to panoramic terraces, each floor offers unique spatial encounters.
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Photographic Brilliance: Captured by Fernando Guerra, the house visually resonates with global audiences.
