Casa da Esquina

Social Gathering and Accommodation

Casa Branca

Comfortable accommodation and a social meeting place – these were the main requirements for a prominent corner building on the town’s main square that formed the basis of our collaboration with Estação Cooperativa de Casa Branca in 2025. The dilapidated semi-detached house will offer accommodation on the upper floor for guests staying for longer periods, while the ground floor will house a neighbourhood café in future. There will also be communal areas for guests.

Work on the building’s exterior was given priority. The roof truss, windows, doors and window lintels were all damaged. Consequently, the roof structure was repaired first and the cold roof was insulated with a cork-lime mixture. In addition, missing covers were added to the chimneys and cracks in the façade were filled with lime milk. For the upper floor, the students designed new metal windows, which they learned to weld, glaze and bricked in. The wooden windows on the ground floor were in good enough condition for renovation, so it was jointly decided to repair and refurbish them. In addition to a large number of small, sensitive general repairs, both floors were connected with openings and existing moisture-proof coatings were removed. In 2026, outstanding work on the kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor is to be completed.