Renovation

The project is located in Porrentruy, a small town in the Swiss Jura. A modest three-story house, positioned at the end of a long street, had quietly fallen into disrepair. Originally built in the late 1960s, with no distinctive architectural heritage or attention to detail, it served as a typical affordable residence for a single family. Despite its deterioration, the building retains potential due to its proportions, location, and core structure. Rather than opting for demolition and a complete rebuild, the project seeks to preserve and repurpose the existing structure, giving it a second life while maintaining its original function.

The warehouse is a commercial and service space located in the small town of Onça do Pitangui, in Minas Gerais. It offers products from agroforestry systems and handicrafts made by local small-scale producers, as well as serving coffee and regional baked goods to both residents and tourists. The project occupies a small building from the early 20th century. The construction, adjacent to a colonial house, has two floors: the ground floor, which sits slightly above street level, and a basement that adapts to the slope of the land. The property is located on the right side of its lot, at the entrance to the town, just before the town hall square.

Situated in the mountainous region of Kamakura, a town renowned for its proximity to the sea, this apartment within a residential complex has undergone a significant transformation under the meticulous guidance of Roovice. Originally designed with a 4DK layout featuring outdated elements such as a dark kitchen and multiple small rooms, the renovation aimed to breathe modernity into the space while seamlessly integrating it with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, particularly enchanting during the spring bloom of Sakura trees.

In the heart of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, an old workshop has been masterfully transformed into a serene and contemporary residence, blending industrial heritage with modern elegance. This unique rehabilitation project centers around a cul-de-sac courtyard now reimagined as a lush, planted patio that serves as the green heart of the home. The U-shaped structure embraces this central oasis, offering both privacy and tranquility while promoting urban biodiversity and natural oxygenation throughout all floors.

Located in the Alto de Pinheiros neighborhood in São Paulo, the existing semi-detached house occupies a narrow, long 5x35m plot. The challenge of the architectural project, without being a radical overhaul as a premise, was to maintain the existing concrete structure, without the need for structural reinforcement. The volume of the staircase and toilet were also maintained.

Almost four years ago, we started an experiment. Erika and Willi had bought a barn, willing to carry out a major alteration by themselves. The financial means for the conversion were limited, as were the owner’s craft skills. A sensitivity for architectural issues could not be assumed. For both, the owner and the architects, this project has been an intense yet rewarding journey.

Owners of large Slovenian post-war suburban houses often took inspiration from older and more prestigious city villas when designing their premises. However, unlike their inspirations, these structures were far simpler in terms of materials and architecture, lacking in excessive luxury and the spacious interiors of the past. Floor plans are typically fragmented into a multitude of small, disconnected rooms arranged around a central staircase. This layout makes it difficult to accommodate the modern spatial expectations of today’s clients, who mainly seek an open, airy living space in the style of a “loft.”