Casa dos Barcos - an Estival Villa on the Cávado River

The “House of Boats” is the result of a careful remodeling project by the architect Vitor Mogadouro who, in 2004, developed an admirable intervention here, with unusual attention to detail, to accommodate a summer house overlooking the river Cávado. The building is divided in 3 floors, well differentiated, which are connected by a wide staircase that helps to distribute the ever-present natural light throughout all spaces: The lower floor, facing the garden, is organized in an open-space, with a very flexible character. A complete bathroom gives it functional autonomy that can easily be increased by adding a kitchenette. Open, through a large glass window to the archway and the porch, the interior extends over the garden, benefiting from multiple possibilities of use in all seasons. The large porch can be used both as a barbecue and dining space, as a games area, or even the installation of modest bathing equipment such as a sauna or a jacuzzi. The middle floor is the heart of this River Villa. The common areas are organized in open-space, taking advantage of the curved development of the space, which promotes continuous crossed views of the outside, with a fireplace, with three fronts, as a central piece of articulation of the different functions. A bedroom, served by built-in wardrobes and a complete bathroom, complete the interior programme. Outside, the upper part of the arcade (covered) and the porch (uncovered) offer ample possibility of use and magnificent views over the river. On the upper floor, we find two large bedrooms with built-in storage, served by a full bathroom and a guest toilet, in addition to a complementary distribution space, as in all other divisions, always served by natural lighting and ventilation. The garden, with a dock, has direct access to the river, with space for a small boat. It also has a gate with access to the ramp that descends from the public access road, which can be used for larger vehicles upon request to the Esposende City Council. There is also a storage room for nautical equipment, outdoor furniture and other paraphernalia. The house has AC, radiators, and a stove with three fronts for environmental control, as well as a diesel boiler placed outside to heat water.