santa catarina apartments

The rehabilitation project of this building, located on Rua de Santa Catarina, one of Porto's main commercial streets, sought to transform a vacant property into a contemporary residential development, preserving its architectural identity and strengthening its relationship with the city.

The intervention respected the building's main existing architectural and structural elements, including the granite masonry walls, timber floors, and original configuration, while introducing significant improvements in thermal and acoustic comfort, functionality, and overall living conditions.

The interior reorganisation enabled the creation of five residential units, incorporating flexible solutions such as mezzanines that make the most of the existing building volume. The rehabilitation of the courtyard, through the removal of inappropriate additions, restored a valuable outdoor space, improving natural light and strengthening the connection between interior and exterior.

The project establishes a balance between heritage and contemporary architecture, promoting a new way of living in the city centre while contributing to the enhancement of the existing urban fabric.