Rua da Alegria, Porto
Structural survey works and the corresponding structural design were carried out for the building located at Rua da Alegria, Porto. The intervention was based on a rigorous assessment of the existing structure, providing a sound technical basis for the adopted solutions and ensuring their suitability to the building’s actual condition.
Concept & Challenge
Originally a 19th-century upper-bourgeois single-family residence, the building was in an advanced state of deterioration due to prolonged roof water infiltration and acts of vandalism. The challenge was to reconcile structural intervention with the preservation of architectural and decorative elements of significant heritage value, guiding the intervention towards the conversion of the property into horizontal ownership with the creation of five residential units, without compromising its original character.
Approach & Methodology
The project was based on a thorough structural survey campaign, complemented by a detailed inventory of the existing construction elements. This approach made it possible to identify structural pathologies, assess the state of conservation and accurately define the necessary strengthening and conservation measures. The in-depth characterisation of the existing structure formed the essential basis for the development of a technically robust structural design, focused on addressing the building’s actual structural issues while optimising the adopted solutions.
Solution & Results
The intervention resulted in five apartments, developed within a strategy that maximised the reuse of existing elements. Structurally, compatible strengthening and consolidation measures were implemented, ensuring safety and compliance with new usage requirements. From a formal perspective, the intervention respected the strong character of the original building, preserving its decorative elements and introducing alterations only in specific situations justified by function or location.
An intervention grounded in rigorous structural survey, combining safety, functional adaptation and the enhancement of architectural heritage.
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