Menina Colina Guest House

February 3, 2021

Floret Arquitectura has renovated Menina Colina Guesthouse in Porto maintaining its conservatism.


This building, being a legacy of exceptional quality and extremely well preserved for having been in continuous use, always by the same family from the middle of the 19th century until the beginning of the 21st century, the challenge was to reconcile the preservation of the existing with new uses and the introduction of infrastructure. The intervention plan involved rehabilitating the entire existing structure, including wooden beams and granite masonry walls, the skylight and preserving the original decorative plaster and carpentry.



The masterplan of the project required the adaptation of single-family housing to local accommodation, store and food and beverage establishment, including the creation of 9 rooms for tourist accommodation, the delimitation of a shopping area, the design of a restaurant and the organization technical spaces associated with the different functions of the building. Inside, the original configuration was maintained, saving most of the existing walls. In this way, the compartmentalization was respected and only the necessary changes were introduced to adapt the building to its new use.



This process involved a complex methodology with the incorporation of contributions from several stakeholders guided by the guiding thread of architecture. All the information and documentation available in the historical archive about the property was collected and, at the same time, the inspection and diagnosis of the structure was carried out. The collection of this information allowed the designers to tailor the program to the potential of the building itself. The project phase included a specialist in art history and local history, who developed a very deep research work that allowed us to understand the building's historical relationship with the surroundings, as well as the history of the building itself and its residents.



Another very relevant aspect of this intervention was the restoration of the backyard garden. The interiors of the city blocks of Porto are characterized by being green spaces with a great diversity of plant species, namely exotic species brought from Brazil, not to mention the varieties of camellias to which the city pays a discreet cult since XIX century.



Address  Rua Dr. Alberto Aires de Gouveia No. 15-19, 4050-023 - Porto, Portugal  www.menina-colina.pt
Photography  João Morgado  www.joaomorgado.com
Architecture  Floret Arquitectura  www.floret.pt

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magazine April 10, 2026
Iñigo Iriarte Interiorismo reimagined a family home for designer and creator Andrés Reisinger as a serene and introspective retreat.
By G&G _ Magazine January 7, 2026
SAOTA introduced Lagoon Villa, an extraordinary architectural residence that seamlessly blends the vibrancy of Abidjan’s cityscape with the serene beauty of the Ébrié Lagoon. With interior design by Claude Missir, the villa epitomises modernist architecture while embracing the natural environment.
By G&G _ Magazine November 25, 2025
With an enviable location for those wishing to explore the city's art and culture, the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel is an ode to balanced and functional design, with its aesthetic curated by Spanish interior design studio El Equipo Creativo .
By G&G _ Magazine November 24, 2025
Visiting Casa Batlló means encountering the genius of Antoni Gaudí in his most imaginative and immersive form, where this modernist masterpiece combines creativity, craftsmanship, and multisensory storytelling.
By G&G _ Magazine November 11, 2025
LEI Interior Design has been recognized with the Best Luxury Apartment Interior Design award for Mina Azizi , Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE. This impressive honor from Luxury Lifestyle Awards reflects a thoughtful and design-led renovation that redefines what modern beachfront living can look and feel like.
By G&G _ Magazine October 28, 2025
Palmira an d GCA Architects unveil a room concept Praise to the Essential , celebrating the authenticity of materials and the elegance of simplicity. In a moment when travelers value emotional well-being and disconnection, the proposal reflects a new approach to Hotel Design, creating spaces that evoke tranquility, sensory experience and genuine comfort.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
In a world where many hotels rely on polished aesthetics and predictable luxury, Piet Hein Eek offers a radically different vision. One of the most influential Dutch designers of the contemporary scene, Eek has built his reputation on redefining design through reuse, craftsmanship and imperfection. At the heart of this ecosystem lies the Hotel Piet Hein Eek - a project that embodies his philosophy and invites guests to experience design not as a static object, but as a living environment.
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.