Pedrógão | House Walter & Christiane

On the 17th of June 2017, a major wildfire broke out in Pedrógão Grande, and spread through the forest to Figueiró dos Vinhos, Castanheira de Pêra, Sertã, Penela, Góis e Pampilhosa da Serra, affecting 500 houses (259 of which were primary residences). 64 people died trying to escape the fires.

Following the tragedy, citizens and institutions made donations to help the reconstruction of the houses and lives affected by the fires. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, responsible for one of the largest funds, contracted a Cooperativa Trabalhar com os 99% crl. (Working with the 99%, Coop), to provide technical assistance in the process of reconstruction, in which Ateliermob produced the project of seven houses.

More than the simple reconstruction of houses that were lost, the main objective was to improve the living conditions of these communities, with particular attention to the fact that, in general, we were dealing with an elderly population.

The fact that the owners stored firewood by the walls of the house permitted the fire to spread rapidly to its interior, consuming the wood structure. The stone walls resisted and were maintained, however, the original structural organisation of the house required significant changes, to respond to the current programmatic demands, in compliance with the legislation in force.

The reconstruction of the single-family house, with two floors, lies to the perimeter of the existing building. During its recovery, the original volume of the house was maintained, designed the main entrance of the east facade, on the continuation of a pedestrian path that extends to the main entrance to the lot. The two floors of the house divide the social areas on the ground floor, and private areas, with rooms and offices, on the upper floor. The main and social entrance is found at level with the ground floor and opens up to the living room and kitchen, keeping separate exterior accesses.