Reconstruction of Quinta de Fundevila in Alvite, Cabeceiras de Basto, District of Braga

Abstract

The rebuilding of the Quinta de Fundevila farmstead in Alvite (Portugal) set out from a study of its ruins and of the former ensemble’s phases of construction. On the basis of what remained, the project retraced the spatial organization of the former farmhouses and drew on the materials, techniques, colors, and building solutions characteristic of the region’s traditional architecture. The reconstruction adapted these principles to the needs of modern life while respecting the buildings’ scale, character, and relationship with the landscape. It was carried out together with the client and local craftspeople using materials such as granite, timber, lime, or clay tiles. The work was thus conceived as an exercise in continuity and transmission of traditional building knowledge.