Monte dos Judeus

Evocative and figurative desire for an architecture of the future

Integrated into the existing topography and irregular morphology of Miragaia, the geometrical form of the building clearly identifies with the Hebrew ancestry and the Jewish culture of Porto associated with the Jewish settlement in Monchique which includes a synagogue and a cemetery for Jewish people. The naturally steep slopes lead to a staggered settlement which testifies to the additions of the two original geometrical forms. The idea clearly distinguishes the different periods between the inherited buildings and the later additions without any misgivings regarding the preservation, reconciliation and compatibility of the new with the original where the new interprets and respects the traditional typological and tectonic values of the old building.

Generically destined for use as residential, the project balances the changes in levels and their impact on the different urban facades considering the existing heritage, the use of the space and its functionality. The composition of the space is expressed in vertical sections which evolved and were created over time. The series of events succeed the additions and adaptations designed to meet human needs. The dwellings are designed as open, multifunctional and flexible. By fixing the means of circulation and rationalising distribution of the space, this makes these small apartments profitable with excellent ventilation, lighting and views of the Douro River. By adjusting the formal and material languages with the desire to prolong over time, the intervention is balanced by the evocative, yet figurative desire for an architecture of the future.