2024 · Porto, Portugal · Adaptive Reuse
Atelier Norte
A creative workspace in Porto
Photography: Simao Ribeiro
The building already existed. Our task was not to replace it, but to listen to what remained and build the minimum necessary around it.
Overview
The brief called for a space that could accommodate a growing team while preserving the character of the original building. We removed later partitions to reveal the original double-height volume, inserting a mezzanine that expands the floor area without closing the room. Existing timber beams are left exposed; the material palette is restrained - concrete, steel, and birch ply.
Specifications
Material Palette
Exposed Original Masonry
The granite party walls were cleaned of later finishes but not repointed. The raw, uneven surface of the original stone is left visible throughout the studio - a direct connection to the construction.
Mild Steel
The mezzanine structure uses mild steel rather than stainless - a deliberate choice. The material will develop a patina over time, darkening in tone as the studio ages. The building history will continue to be written on the surfaces.
Baltic Birch Ply
Used for worksurfaces, storage, and the stair treads. Birch ply is durable, workable, and honest - a material that architects understand and that clients can see being used with confidence.
Light Strategy
In a dense urban block, light is scarce and directional. The rear courtyard was treated as a light well - its white-painted surfaces reflecting northern sky light deep into the studio plan. The street facade retains its original window rhythm but the glazing bars were removed, maximising the glass area without altering the facade composition.
Site Response
The project does not add to the Porto skyline. It works entirely within the existing building envelope - an internal transformation that is invisible from the street. The facade was cleaned and the original lime render repaired rather than replaced, returning the building to its 19th-century appearance.
Spatial Archive
PROJECT TEAM & CREDITS
