Perched atop the verdant slopes overlooking Paredes de Coura, Portugal, a stately structure stands, an indication to a bygone era and a canvas for contemporary reimagining. Casa Arco, conceived by Tiago Castro Sousa, originally a commercial pharmacy, possessed a certain grandeur, a dignified presence that set it apart from the vernacular architecture of the village. Its elegant proportions, expansive spans, and the delicate stonework detailing – the jambs and lintels whispering of Art Nouveau sensibilities – conjured images of refined interiors, spaces imbued with stylistic flourish. Yet, this exterior promise belied a starkly different reality within.
The existing interior, a patchwork of small, compartmentalized, and dimly lit rooms, offered a stark contrast to the house’s outward elegance. A central, high-ceilinged space, though blessed with north-south exposure, was hemmed in by four cramped rooms, their connectivity dictated by a maze of internal doors that disrupted the flow and compromised the central space’s potential. The attic, accessible via a narrow, confined staircase, housed two bedrooms and storage, a clear example of a space evolved through pragmatic additions rather than cohesive design. It was, in essence, a functionalist space devoid of conceptual clarity, a stage where human necessity dictated the layout.
Enter the clients, cultural connoisseurs with a deep appreciation for music, design, and, crucially, the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements. They recognized the inherent dissonance between the house’s exterior promise and its interior reality, and tasked Tiago Castro Sousa with a transformative challenge: to harmonize form and space, to materialize the dream evoked by the building’s elegant facade.
The project’s initial canvas was a simple, square plan, punctuated by large openings. It lacked the evocative power the clients desired. Sousa’s intervention was to introduce the arch, a motif drawn from the building’s historical memory and a symbol of timeless elegance. This architectural element became the linchpin of the design, organizing the interior space and echoing the Art Nouveau aspirations of the clients.
The ground floor, the primary living space, was reimagined as a single, flowing expanse, articulated by two strategically placed arcades. These arches defined three distinct yet interconnected zones: kitchen, living room, and dining room. The arches, more than mere structural elements, became instruments of spatial organization, creating a seamless transition between these zones while maintaining their individual identities. This elegant symbiosis of form and function fulfilled the client’s desire for a refined living experience.
The upper floors, dedicated to private spaces, embraced tranquility and serenity. Natural northern light, soft and constant, bathed the central office, support room, bathroom, and storage. The connection between these levels was facilitated by a suspended, wood-clad concrete staircase, a sculptural element that adhered to the rhythmic metrics established by the arches, its ascent and descent framed by their elegant curves.
The arch, in its various iterations, became the defining element of Casa Arco. It served as an organizing principle for the interior, a unifying motif that brought coherence to the disparate spaces. Externally, it marked the entrance, a subtle nod to the building’s historical context and a powerful visual statement.
Tiago Castro Sousa’s Casa Arco is a demonstration to the transformative power of architectural vision. It is a project that transcends mere renovation, becoming a narrative of spatial and stylistic rebirth. The arch, a simple yet profound element, became the key to unlocking the house’s inherent potential, realizing the clients’ Art Nouveau dream and creating a harmonious dialogue between past and present. In Paredes de Coura, Casa Arco stands not just as a dwelling, but as a carefully crafted symphony of light, shadow, and form, a representation of the enduring power of architectural imagination.