Kabrita Molero House / Atelier Data
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Text description provided by the architects. Lisbon architecture and design studio Atelier Data has completed work on a housing project in Portugal’s Algarve region, transforming a former family-run grain mill into a five-bedroom vacation home.
Goat Miller’s House (Cabrita Mill House) was run by the grandfather of the Cabrita family, who led a typical rural lifestyle in the Algarve. The area has since become a popular holiday destination, and the plant has never been used. The site consisted of a series of traditional country dwellings: a small house; A wind well for milling wheat. threshing floor for grain harvest. A small barn for livestock. Driven by a desire to repurpose existing structures, Atelier Data incorporated them into the new design, creating a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that celebrate the surrounding landscape while providing a series of private areas.
The design is inspired by the local vernacular. The ‘Açoteia Algarvia’, a feature on the flat roof for observing the sea and drying produce in the sun, was reinterpreted and presented on the new structures. A series of geometric volumes and sculpted voids provide private patios for the bedrooms, while windows, balconies and terraces strategically frame the surrounding arid landscape and Atlantic Ocean.
The kitchen, living room and pool constitute the main social area of the house, from which a series of private areas are distributed. Three en-suite bedrooms are located in the volume of the first building which is offset by the former exterior wall of the mill house, forming a series of exterior patios providing private outdoor spaces. Above, a rooftop terrace with a communal jacuzzi takes full advantage of the privileged view of the sea. Two additional en-suite bedrooms form a second volume that stands out due to its architecture, with serene sea views.
At the heart of the building there is an outside courtyard of different areas and sizes. This courtyard consists of local plant species and rocks that contribute to providing a cool environment to deal with the region’s hot climate. This space also functions as a ‘home divider’, enabling it to function as a five-bedroom holiday home or a two-bedroom home with a three-bedroom separate annex.
“Casa Cabrita Moleiro is a flexible living space that can accommodate various possibilities of use and sharingAtelier Data said.
The refurbishment process includes items and materials that have been locally sourced, recycled, or left exposed. Together, they contribute to the home’s contemporary and simple rustic character. The architects prioritized an authentic aesthetic that matches the rustic nature of the site. This involves using reclaimed railroad wood, laid in a playful pattern on the sidewalk of the patio, along with small pebbles. The doors are entirely made of vertically assembled wood slats and painted white, while the in-situ cast-concrete structural ceilings were left bare and painted white. Polished concrete floors further contribute to the minimalist interior design.
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