Architectural Rehabilitation in Odemira, Portugal: The Pottery Workshop by ARDE Arquitetura+Design
In the rolling landscape of Odemira, Portugal, the rehabilitation of Quinta da Estrela emerges as a delicate architectural intervention that balances respect for tradition with contemporary needs. Led by Daniel Pinho of ARDE Arquitetura+Design, the project showcases a thoughtful approach to restoration and expansion, which is both responsive to the site’s history and adaptive to its structural challenges.
Context and Landscape Transformation
Quinta da Estrela, occupying a valley in Odemira, has witnessed significant changes to its natural landscape over the past three decades. The excavation of a surrounding slope to accommodate parking resulted in the isolation of the original building and introduced structural instability. This dramatic alteration to the landscape has played a critical role in defining the goals of the rehabilitation project: to stabilize and preserve the existing building while integrating new functional spaces for a pottery workshop.
The project’s primary challenge was rooted in this landscape disruption. The excavation damaged the structural integrity of the house, creating a need for a stabilizing intervention. At the same time, the design aimed to preserve the existing architecture, which was in line with the principles of conservation, while ensuring that the new additions seamlessly complement the existing structure.
Architectural Intervention
The architectural response to this challenge can be divided into two main components: rehabilitating the existing building and creating a new adjacent volume. In rehabilitating the original structure, the architects have worked carefully to adapt the internal spaces for new uses without altering the character of the building. The rehabilitation includes a potter’s workspace, store, kitchen, and toilet facilities. These functional spaces have been integrated with minimal intervention, ensuring that the building’s historical essence is preserved.
The new volume, designed to house kilns and technical areas essential to the pottery program, plays a crucial role in both functional and structural terms. This addition is not merely an auxiliary structure but a carefully designed buttress that supports the damaged wall of the house. It is made entirely of handmade solid brick, a material that bridges the new construction with the potter’s craft, both aesthetically and conceptually. The simple form of the new volume, combined with the earthy texture of the brick, establishes an industrial character that contrasts yet harmonizes with the existing building.
Materiality and Craftsmanship
The choice of handmade solid brick for the new construction serves as a powerful symbol in this project. The material not only provides the necessary structural support but also embodies a deep connection to the earth and to the craft of pottery. The use of clay, both in the making of bricks and in the potter’s work, reinforces the project’s thematic ties to the natural landscape and the craftsmanship inherent in the pottery process.
The design’s restrained aesthetic allows the material itself—brick and clay—to become the protagonist of the new intervention. This focus on materiality elevates the simplicity of the design, creating a subtle dialogue between the old and new structures. The handmade quality of the brick echoes the artisanal process of pottery, underscoring the craft’s significance in the building’s identity.
Landscape and Accessibility
To reestablish a harmonious relationship between the building and its altered surroundings, the landscape near the main entrance was redesigned. Two ramps were introduced to create a smooth and accessible connection between the pottery workshop, the town of Odemira, and the broader Quinta da Estrela property. This integration of the built environment with the landscape serves as a final, unifying gesture in the rehabilitation project. It enhances the accessibility of the site, facilitating a more fluid interaction between the building, its users, and the surrounding context.
ARDE Arquitetura+Design’s intervention in Quinta da Estrela is a thoughtful, contextual response to the challenges posed by both the existing building and its modified landscape. The project achieves a delicate balance between conservation and innovation by preserving the integrity of the original structure while introducing a contemporary, materially resonant expansion. The focus on craftsmanship, materiality, and the building’s relationship with its environment ensures that the rehabilitated pottery workshop not only serves its new function but also stands as a testament to the rich cultural and natural history of Odemira.
All images © by Ivo Tavares and ARDE Arquitetura+Design. Feel free to find more architecture projects from around the globe on WE AND THE COLOR.
