Tiago do Vale, a dovecote-granary for introspection

The Portuguese architect Tiago do Vale is behind the remake of an old, disused dovecote-granary in the Minho region in Portugal. More than a practical reuse of the construction, the goal of this project was to take users back to the original spirit of the place.


Projects to reconstruct rural buildings often involve a practical reuse of the existing architecture. Here, instead, for the Dovecote-Granary revamped by the Portuguese architect Tiago do Vale the architectural space of the structure is the actual purpose of the project. It can no longer be used for its original purpose in Minho because times change although this famous northern region of Portugal has a strong agricultural vocation, this property is no longer farmed.
Salvaged despite its humble origins, the dovecote-granary stands out for its exquisitely elegant and practical design that makes it a small jewel of vernacular architecture whose clean lines and material make it look a bit like a Japanese tearoom. The original structure made from timber slats for natural ventilation of the interior spaces stood on a granite base. It was a smart combination of three traditional building types: granary, dovecote and drying shed. 
However, the original wood had rotted, so Tiago do Vale demolished the granary-dovecote piece by piece to get a better grasp of the building's details. He then used new timber slats and made a few adjustments to rebuild the construction and make it usable for people, as you can see in the video that goes with the project.

New connections facilitate access inside the covered pavilion that is open to the sight and to the air in order to connect with nature and with the spirit of the place. 
Tiago do Vale's dovecote-granary is an outpouring of love for the territory and its history, a small, timeless temple that offers sanctuary and where you can...do nothing except enjoy the special atmosphere of the location, amplified by the architecture.

Christiane Bürklein

ARCHITECTURE  Tiago do Vale Architects (http://tiagodovale.com)
ARCHITECTURE TEAM Tiago do Vale, María Cainzos Osinde, with Maria João Araújo, Camille Martin, Eva Amor, Hugo Quintela
PROJECT YEAR 2015-2016
PROGRAM Leisure
LOCATION Ponte de Lima, Portugal
CLIENT António Paulino, Casa do Cruzeiro
CONSTRUCTION José Amorim Lima, L.da
CONSTRUCTION YEAR 2017
FOOTPRINT 183 ft2 (17 m2)
CONSTRUCTION AREA 452 ft2 (42 m2)
FURNITURE Galpão 
PHOTOGRAPHY João Morgado (http://joaomorgado.com)