Malha

The intervention works with what remains. The existing slab, pillar, and beam structure was static and in an advanced state of disrepair, yet still capable of supporting a new cycle of use. Instead of pursuing extensive demolition, the project concentrates its effort on improving environmental and spatial performance through a controlled exchange of the external envelope. The old shell is replaced by a new finish that upgrades comfort and clarity without altering the overall mass, allowing change to be precise and economical.

Within the dwellings, the plan is conceived as a succession of rooms that can operate separately or be joined, supporting different ways of living over time. This sequence allows residents to negotiate privacy and shared routines inside the unit, maintaining flexibility without sacrificing legibility.

At ground level, the building reconnects with the city through an open entrance aligned with Casa da Música Metro Station. This gesture strengthens the relationship between public movement and domestic life, positioning the project as an active threshold within the urban fabric. MALHA frames rehabilitation as reintegration: a process of working with an inherited structure, upgrading its performance, and restoring its civic presence through measured architectural decisions.