a partnership in ruins ...

Isn't it amazing? This modern concrete structure coexists with an old stone ruins in Peneda-Gerês National Park, which lies just a stone’s throw from the Spanish border in Portugal’s northernmost tip. This is the home of the remarkable Casa no Gerês. The genius behind this odd couple's story is the architect duo, Graça Correia and her partner, Italian Roberto Ragazzi. Familiar with the originality and integrity of the two, clients Micé and Eduardo Pinto Ferreira, gave Correia and Ragazzi artistic license to run free with the design with only a few exceptions. Because it was on protected land they could not cut down any of the trees on site, the ruins had to remain and the planning permission allowed for a maximum size of just under 60 sq m. Talk about miniscule!

Add to that the need of a separate building for visitors and it became a tall order to fill as well as a tricky balancing act. After three years of planning and construction the project was finally complete in 2006. This is the outstanding result. The strength of the house relies on a boat-shaped base engineered like a barge moored to the hill.

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