Arts Building By MiMool Arquitectura & Design de Interiores

The Arts Building by MiMool Arquitectura & Design de Interiores is a sensitive architectural intervention that reimagines a historically layered site in Porto, Portugal, transforming it into a contemporary residential complex while preserving the city’s architectural heritage. Located on Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro, the project balances restoration, demolition, and new construction to create 14 thoughtfully designed housing units within a revitalized urban block.

Originally, the site consisted of a traditional street-facing building alongside industrial structures extending deep into the plot, leaving little usable open space. MiMool’s proposal began with the strategic demolition of obsolete industrial volumes and impermeable courtyard surfaces, allowing the interior of the plot to breathe again. This decision was key in reintroducing light, greenery, and spatial clarity into the development.

Respecting History, Introducing Contemporary Layers

The street-facing building retained its original four-floor structure, including an attic level, while the eastern wing stepped down to three floors. One of the most defining gestures was the addition of a setback upper floor, clad in pre-patinated anthracite zinc with concealed fixings. This contemporary volume subtly distinguishes itself from the historic fabric while maintaining a respectful dialogue with the existing architecture.

Thanks to generous ceiling heights, an intermediate floor was introduced in parts of the original volume, optimizing internal layouts without compromising spatial quality. Importantly, these changes are only visible from the interior courtyard, preserving the integrity of the historic street façade.

Careful Restoration of Porto’s Architectural Identity

The renovation of the primary façade was approached with meticulous care. Granite stonework, iron detailing, and original ceramic tiles—some of the oldest in Porto—were carefully cleaned and restored. These tiles, historically significant and academically documented, reinforce the building’s cultural value and anchor the project firmly within Porto’s architectural lineage.

At the rear, façade modifications resulting from the additional floor were carefully designed to echo the proportions and material language of the original structure, ensuring visual cohesion across old and new elements.

Courtyard as a Green Urban Heart

In contrast to the historic façade, the volume extending into the courtyard adopts a clean, contemporary architectural language, deliberately avoiding stylistic competition with the main building. This distinction allows both identities to coexist harmoniously.

The newly liberated courtyard prioritizes green space over hardscape, introducing private patios, landscaped pathways, and shared outdoor areas that enhance residents’ quality of life. Private parking is discreetly integrated, ensuring functionality without compromising the serenity of the communal environment.

A Balanced Urban Transformation

The Arts Building exemplifies how adaptive reuse, heritage preservation, and contemporary residential design can converge successfully. By blending historic restoration with modern architectural interventions, MiMool Arquitectura & Design de Interiores delivers a project that is both contextually rooted and forward-looking—a refined model for sustainable urban regeneration in historic European cities.

All the photographs are works of Ivo Tavares Studio