This hotel in Portugal embraces its rugged topography

Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portugal

The following description is courtesy of Menos é Mais Arquitectos.

Of the Place

The rugged topography and the Douro River physically marks the limits of the landscape and the views. The site, a steep valley with orange trees planted in terraces and a seasonal water line, these are the constraints/ conditions to the implantation of the new construction. It is intended to guarantee the conservation and preservation of the natural and biological processes, indispensable to the existing ecosystems.

The Program

The request of a small equipment for agrotourism built in a wood modular system. Fifteen modules with the dimensions of 6,60 x 3,30m, generate the container to the necessary spaces of functionality and interior comfort. The exterior spaces, in the shape of balconies, long terraces, guarantee the accesses and circulations, as well as the protection against solar rays and weatherproof. Underneath, sustaining all the wood construction, there’s a metallic frame that rests in two pillars, that overcome a span of 13m in the center and two symmetrical cantilevers of 6,60m on each side. These pillars, with habitable space inside, shelter all the technical zones and necessary services.

The Idea

The site/place dictate the rules. The rules demanded that the valley remained “almost” untouched. A suspended structure, standing only in two points guarantee the minimum impact with the soil. The drawing sought to synthesize the most correct proportions of the space, rigor of the pre-established metrics, admissible loads, details systematization, and essentially the coherence in the utilization of the materials. The architectonic object sought to come closer to the concept of a “bridge”, to the concept of infrastructure.

Project Details

Project: 2013-2014

Construction: 2014- 2018

Client: Quinta do Vallado, Sociedade Agrícola, Lda

Location: Castelo Melhor, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portugal

Area: 505 m²

Architecture

Architects: Menos é Mais Arquitectos Associados, Lda.

Authors: Francisco Vieira de Campos

Project Manager: Francisco Vieira de Campos

Project Team: Inês Mesquita, Cristina Maximino

Engineering

Structural Engineer: Eulália Soares (Newton-C, Lda)

Hydraulic Installations: Francisco Reis (Newton-C, Lda)

Electrical Equipment, Security and Telecomunications Installations: Maria da Luz (Alfa Consult, Lda)

Mechanical Installations: Raul Bessa (GET, Lda.)

Acoustic consulting: Eulália Soares (Newton-C, Lda)

Constructor: João Veiga-construções, Lda

Wood Constructor: Rusticasa -construções, Lda

Mechanical Installations: Norinstelnor, Instalações Especiais S.A.

Electrical Equipment and Telecomunication Installations: LGB – Sociedade de Projetos e Infraestruturas Eléctricas e de Telecomunicações, Lda

Carpentry: Jolcaz-Carpintaria Unipessoal, Lda

Supervising: Códio-projectos Coordenação E Direcção De Obras, Lda

Interior Decoration: Menos é Mais com João Álvares Ribeiro

Photography: José Campos, Francisco Vieira de Campo