Stefano Riva breathes new life into ancient ruins in portugal
Vineyards cover the landscape of Resende, Portugal, where architect Stefano Riva transforms one of the site’s buildings into a holiday retreat, Casa Jeronimo. Set within the Douro region, known for its terraced granite walls and winemaking tradition, the residence emerges concerning the history of the site while introducing a bold pink volume.
One of the few surviving elements of the original structure, a weathered granite wall, encloses the residence. Rather than merely restoring the ruin, Riva introduces a contrasting concrete volume, an abstract interpretation of the historical footprint marked by the original farm building. Initially envisioned as partially subterranean, the discovery of a granite rock during construction led to the redesign of the project to respect the natural boundaries of the terrain.
all images by Attilio Fiumarella, courtesy of Stefano Riva
climbing plants turn Casa Jeronimo’s granite wall into a garden
Italian architect Stefano Riva organizes Casa Jeronimo across two levels. The ground floor houses the kitchen and living areas, while moving up, the first floor accommodates three bedrooms and a library. Interstitial spaces between the built forms become planted voids with climbing vegetation, and trees gradually cover the structure, transforming the preserved granite wall into an enclosure for a garden.
The use of pink-pigmented concrete mirrors the regional vernacular architecture, complementing the lush greenery of the vineyards. Rather than imposing itself on the landscape, the intervention reflects a sensitive adaptation of the existing context, shaping a contemporary retreat.
located in the vineyard-covered landscape of Resende, Portugal
a weathered granite wall encloses the residence
Riva introduces a contrasting concrete volume
the discovery of a granite rock during construction led to the redesign of the project
the residence emerges concerning the history of the site
introducing a bold pink volume
the Douro region is known for its terraced granite walls and winemaking tradition
the use of pink-pigmented concrete mirrors the regional vernacular architecture
neutral tones define the interiors
project info:
name: Casa Jeronimo
architect: Stefano Riva | @rivastefanoriva
location: Resende, Portugal
collaborator: Omar Sala, Daniela Marques, Yasmine Tanout, Aurora Mason
engineering: Jorge Gomes, JG-Projectos de Engenharia
constructor: Pereira Melo & Ribeiro Lda
client: Jeronimo Montenegro
photographer: Attilio Fiumarella | @a_phi_photo
