The site of the old factory “A Ideal” (a facility for fabric and knitwear production) is located along the riverfront area of Coimbra, in the Arnado district, an area shaped by urban expansion along the Mondego River and the railway. In contrast to the former industrial nature, this area is currently going through some transformations caused by hotel industry growth and railway substitution by surface metro.
Following a fire in 2011, the listed building of the “A Ideal do Arnado” factory retained only its façades, which were structurally stabilized as part of the intervention. The ancillary constructions that previously existed had been demolished, leaving only the peripheral walls of the former factory when the project began.
The project involved rehabilitating the old factory building and extending it with a new structure to house a Residential Facility for the Elderly (ERPI). This facility caters to diverse needs, from highly dependent residents requiring continuous care to fully autonomous individuals.
Reading the scale and references of the nearby surroundings, the two volumes have different strategies:
Volume A – The Former Factory – The rehabilitation process preserved the façades, reconstructed the roofs, and provided the necessary infrastructure for the new program. This included the common areas – Lounges, a dining room, and a gym, primarily located on the ground floor, the service and technical areas – Kitchen, laundry, staff facilities, water tank, and more, mainly in the semi-basement, and residential areas – Rooms spread across three floors within the rehabilitated existing building.
Volume B – New Extension – This new structure provides additional accommodation for independent residents. Its placement and height transition seamlessly to the neighboring hotel to the north, while also creating a landscaped courtyard for residents, enhancing their connection to the river. The new volume runs parallel to the former factory, strengthening its integration and ensuring the factory is not perceived as a residual or monumentalized object.
The two volumes are connected by a single-story structure, comprising two rooms and a covered gallery that links the existing and new constructions.
In the former factory, the project sought to restore the industrial atmosphere using materials such as exposed brick, metal cladding, and iron-framed glass panels. Additionally, efforts were made to reconstruct the rhythm of the original pillars and beams, leaving the structure in exposed concrete. At the heart of the building, a shared space on each floor is illuminated from above by new skylights (“sheds”), reminiscent of industrial roofing.
The new building emphasizes structural abstraction, with exposed concrete pigmented in a tone akin to the Lioz limestone present in the original factory’s stonework. These concrete planes are oriented to maximize views of the Mondego River.