A historic limestone structure in Reveles, Montemor-o-Velho — ~90cm walls, a barrel-vaulted undercroft with a cylindrical column, and a roofless garden ruin preserved as outdoor space. The live proof-of-concept for how Laroux reads a building before renovating it: material honesty, minimal intervention in historic fabric, and reversibility.
Mosteiro da Seiça
The Cloister takes its name from its origin — built and originally owned by the Mosteiro da Seiça, the monastery whose ruined facade still stands nearby. The property's "isento" status predates modern licensing, allowing structural work without prior planning approval.
The Cloister — seeing the hidden potentials.
- A new bridge opening reduces drive time to Figueira da Foz by 30–40%.
- Proximity to the Figueira da Foz–Coimbra train line.
- Highest point in the area — an ocean view, 20km from the coast.
- Possibility of adding m² — the full 200m² courtyard was originally a two-storey building.
Two ruin annexes, combined into a single 30m² multifunctional studio. Large sliding glass doors — 12m² of surface — open onto a private walled courtyard. Lime plaster with a beeswax finish, tadelakt in the bathroom, black granite tabletops and window sills, heated polished concrete floors.
The Studio — improving where it multiplies the value.
- Renovating old, unused structures into a beautiful multifunctional space with full amenities, instead of only lightly improving the main house.
- Creating overall coherence through simple improvements, and presenting a project for the entire property.