2022

CASA BRANCA
Conversion of a Community Centre
Casa Branca, Portugal

category
Built

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