30.10.2023 Valentina Grossmann

Casal Saloio by Miguel Marcelino

Casal Saloio, © Archive Miguel Marcelino, photo by Lourenço T. Abreu

In Portugal the Miguel Marcelino architectural office has transformed the Casal Saloio country house into a contemporary museum. The farmhouse dating back to the 16th century is one of the few country homes to still recall the region's cultural heritage today. Now transformed into a museum, it provides visitors insights into Saloio culture.

The museum's ensemble of buildings is characterised by a broken and irregular geometry. © Archive Miguel Marcelino, photo by Lourenço T. Abreu

Successive alterations

As time passed, the house underwent multiple changes and enlargements in size. Originally consisting of just one room it later gained a secondary room, then a side wing, a stone stove and a stable. A second story and various annexes were the final alterations. All these structural changes satisfied the needs of the residents but did not follow any aesthetic guidelines.

Renovated interior of the country house. © Archive Miguel Marcelino, photo by Lourenço T. Abreu
Second storey in the country house. © Archive Miguel Marcelino, photo by Lourenço T. Abreu

Preserving existing structures

Recognizing the building's historical value, Miguel Marcelino and his team decided to keep it in its last perceivable configuration; accordingly the ensemble's broken and irregular geometry was retained to make it possible to grasp the history of the old rural house in the future.

In size and shaping the new extension is reminiscent of the extant buildings. © Archive Miguel Marcelino, photo by Lourenço T. Abreu
The two new volumes merge together. © Archive Miguel Marcelino, photo by Lourenço T. Abreu

Sensitive enlargement

A new extension was added consisting of two intersecting L-shaped volumes that join with the old ensemble to form a central courtyard. In shape and size the extension is similar to the original, thus keeping to the character of the place, and is easily distinguishable from the old volumes by not having a tiled roof. The sensitive approach that the architects took in the process preserves the cultural heritage of the municipality of Cascais, enabling future generations to gain insights into its history.


Architecture: Miguel Marcelino
Team: Rafael Ramalho, João Neto, Martina Cappellini, Mariana Almeida
Client: Município de Cascais
Location: Outeiro de Polima, Cascais (PT)


Structural engineering: A2P
Plumbing engineering: Augusto Macedo
Electrical engineering: Ohmsor

HVAC engineering: Rui Batista
General contractor: Loviril
Fire prevention consulting: ETU
Landscape design: Paulo Palma

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