Portuguese Architect Tiago Sousa Creates Box House Within Existing Structure in Romarigães

In the Portuguese village of Romarigães, architect Tiago Sousa has completed a renovation project called Box House that involves constructing a new dwelling within the existing walls of an older structure. The design creates a visual effect of one house built inside another, with the lower portion retaining original stone walls and the upper section featuring red brick construction. Sousa employed contrasting materials and forms throughout the project—the original facade maintains its traditional gabled roof shape while the new addition has a flat, squared roof. Interior spaces continue this contrast with white plaster walls alternating with dark wood elements, and exposed concrete staircases serving as both functional and decorative elements. The two-story layout separates living areas on the ground floor (kitchen, dining room, and living room) from sleeping quarters on the upper level (two bedrooms and a bathroom). The dual-wall construction is perceptible from inside through windows and two terraces created in the space between the old and new exterior walls. The project demonstrates how contemporary interventions can create equilibrium between historical preservation and modern design while highlighting the strengths of both approaches.