Photos: Christian Daschek
Casa Branca is a village in Alentejo that was characterised by the railway for decades. The railway properties from different eras, residential houses, administrative and workshop buildings, are now empty, and the village itself counts only 80 inhabitants.
The cooperative “Estacao Cooperativa” has set itself the goal of reviving this place with social housing, cultural activities, open workshops and studios. The aim is to create a new centre that enriches the entire region – a future model for rural areas.
Nine BASEhabitat students are spending a semester in Casa Branca, and a first building is to be converted and renovated into workshops, cost-effectively, with low material input and sustainable materials. The beginning of a long-term cooperation between the cooperative and BASEhabitat.
Inventory
Partner
Estacao Cooperativa
Students team
Aaron Eckert, Christine Gärtner, Lea Hartmann, Lorena Paulitschek, Mia Hemmerling, Moritz Berger, Nadine Dajanovic, Semjon Fehr, Tim Kölle
Site management
Christian Daschek, Joana Torres, Tania Teixeira
Assistance to the site management
CRU Atelier
Timber construction
Sam Boche