Real Companhia Velha
This early 20th-century Porto Wine Waterhouse, originally constructed for the storage of Port wine and currently owned by The Fladgate Partnership Vinhos, S.A., was the subject of a specialised programme of structural inspection and diagnosis due to the presence of significant damage to its construction elements. The intervention enabled the assessment of the building’s state of conservation, particularly of the roof structure, and the definition of rehabilitation and structural strengthening measures, complemented by a programme of roof monitoring and control.
Concept & Challenge
The two-storey building, with a rectangular plan, features a four-pitched timber roof supported on granite masonry walls. The identified damage, associated with the inadequate structural behaviour of the roof, posed the challenge of delivering an effective and discreet intervention, ensuring the overall stability of the structure and mitigating adverse effects on the load-bearing elements, without compromising the original architecture and constructive expression of the roof.
Approach & Methodology
The work was developed in a phased manner, beginning with a structural survey supported by visual inspection and non-destructive testing, allowing the characterisation of the roof’s behaviour and the identification of the main damage mechanisms. Based on this assessment, a minimal-intervention structural strengthening design was developed, including the controlled tightening of the truss tie-rods, complemented by a monitoring system to track the structural behaviour over time.
Solução & Resultados
As soluções implementadas privilegiaram uma intervenção mínima e compatível, reforçando o desempenho estrutural da cobertura e a sua ligação às paredes resistentes. A intervenção permitiu melhorar a estabilidade e o comportamento global do edifício, garantindo a sua durabilidade e preservando a arquitetura original da cobertura, valorizada pelo Dono de Obra.
The rehabilitation of this warehouse was distinguished by the balance achieved between structural performance, respect for the roof architecture and a minimal-intervention approach, aligned with the Client’s expectations and with established principles of built heritage conservation.
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