Colouring the streets of Ovar. A house renovation in Portugal

The renovation of an old Portuguese house by Nelson Resende blends almost invisibly the old and new, adding colour to a central street in Ovar.

Portuguese architect Nelson Resende renovated a historical house in Rua Dr. José Falcão, in Ovar, south of Porto. The building featured different states of conservation, that easily led to what had to be preserved and discarded in order to uniformity and coherence between the old and the new.

Img.1 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.2 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.3 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.4 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.5 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.6 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.7 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.8 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.9 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.10 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, backyard, 2017
Img.11 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, backyard, 2017
Img.12 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, backyard, 2017
Img.13 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, backyard, 2017
Img.14 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, Portugal, 2017
Img.15 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, evening view, 2017
Img.16 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, evening view, 2017
Img.17 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, evening view, 2017
Img.18 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, evening view, 2017
Img.19 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, evening view, 2017
Img.20 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, night view, 2017

Located in a structural artery of the city of Ovar the building allows the repetition of an urban model of frequent use, that favors a peripheral occupation of the blocks and liberates its interior. In this setting, both the addition and the main house present a logic of implementation supported by two main elevations: one more formal and representative facing the street, the second more private and uncommitted facing the backyard.

Img.1 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.2 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.3 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.4 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, entrance, 2017
Img.5 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.6 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.7 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.8 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.9 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.10 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.11 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.12 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.13 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.14 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.15 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, staircase, 2017
Img.16 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, staircase, 2017
Img.17 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic, 2017
Img.18 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic, 2017
Img.19 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic, 2017
Img.20 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic, 2017
Img.21 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic, 2017
Img.22 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic bathroom, 2017
Img.23 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic bathroom, 2017
Img.24 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, dining room, 2017
Img.25 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, dining room, 2017
Img.26 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, dining room, 2017
Img.27 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, dining room, 2017
Img.28 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, dining room, 2017
Img.29 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, dining room, 2017
Img.30 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.31 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.32 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.33 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, interior view, 2017
Img.34 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, kitchen, 2017
Img.35 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, kitchen, 2017
Img.36 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, kitchen, 2017
Img.37 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, room, 2017
Img.38 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, room, 2017
Img.39 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, room, 2017
Img.40 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, room, 2017
Img.41 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, wardrobe detail, 2017
Img.42 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, room, 2017
Img.43 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, skylight, 2017
Img.44 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, entrance from the garage, 2017
Img.1 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, window detail
Img.2 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, facade detail
Img.3 Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, facade detail
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, ground floor plan
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, first floor plan
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, attic floor plan
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, elevation 1
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, elevation 2
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, elevation 3
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, garage elevationa and detail
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, section 1
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, section 2
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, section 3
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, section 4
Nelson Resende, Casa Ovar, section and detail

The existing layout has been maintained, taking into account its states of degradation. The spaces of social use and of longer permanence are destined to the main volume allowing to take advantage of the existing compartments. Complementarily, the secondary volume hosts the garage space facing the street and the private area facing the garden. The attic has been kept free, so to be used as a multipurpose space.

  • Casa Ovar
  • Ovar, Portugal
  • Single family house
  • Nelson Resende
  • João Almeirante
  • Nuno Leite
  • António Souto
  • 216 sqm
  • 2017