Restorations

Highlighting our architectural heritage

It’s up to all of us to value the vernacular architecture of our ancestors’ homes. Whether it’s a granite ruin on a farm that belonged to our grandparents, or an ancient schist house we bought because we fell in love with its charm, many old Portuguese buildings are just waiting for an expert eye to give them a second life.

And just as each old building has a unique character and charm, each structural base material—granite, schist, wood, or tile—requires a professional approach to planning the restoration tailored to its specific needs. Rebuilding, or restoration, means protecting our heritage and embracing an ecological, economical, and protectionist vision of our national housing stock.

Ecositana, as a specialist with extensive experience in the field, is your partner in planning and executing the comprehensive restoration of your ruin. Focusing on wood as a structural and construction material, reflecting the know-how of the ancients with a deep respect for classical construction techniques and an encyclopedic knowledge of contemporary materials, Ecositana rebuilds roofs, two-story houses, and rooms using its wood-framed residential technique.

Recovering and modernizing without compromising the vernacular style

Using the best laminated wood beams and the most modern waterproofing and insulation techniques, our team breathes new life into your ruins, ensuring comfort, safety, and aesthetics.

In addition to its structural qualities, particularly regarding mechanical strength and flexibility, wood also offers the added value of being naturally insulating and the lightest material. This property of wood proves essential when rebuilding a roof or floor without overloading the pre-existing structure. Wood is magical.

That’s why Ecositana combines modern construction technologies, thus guaranteeing current comfort standards, with materials that have stood the test of time and defied the ages, such as ceramic tiles, rock wool, thermo-modified lining, mosaics, stone, and, of course, wood beams, to carry out restorations that combine the best of the old and new worlds.

Procurmaos valorizar e recuperar o património arquitectónico

Unimos o saber tradicional às metodologias modernas

Numerous Advantages of Wood in Restorations

Renovations using Ecositana wood structures offer multiple advantages:

Lightweight – Wood is more flexible, resistant, and lightweight than concrete or steel, an essential component for ensuring the stability of old structures without overloading them.

Stability & Freedom – Wood offers greater architectural freedom, with the possibility of larger spans and bolder designs.

Thermally Functional with Stone – While stone has thermal inertia that stores energy, wood is a natural insulator: combining the two creates a healthy and comfortable home.

Hygrometric Regulation – Similarly, wood, with its ability to “breathe,” balances the natural humidity of the stone and promotes better indoor air quality and prevents certain construction pathologies.

Space Savings – With smaller pillar or beam sections than reinforced concrete columns, we achieve the same mechanical resistance. This results in a gain in living space that will certainly please residents. Structural Beauty – The delicate aesthetics of a wooden structure are undeniably harmonious, and unlike other materials, the wood can be left visible, delighting the eye and increasing the ceiling height.

Respect for Vernacular Architecture – And, last but not least, the use of wood is a true love letter to our architectural heritage, respecting ancient techniques and material combinations that have proven themselves for centuries.

Difference Between Restoration and Renovation

When dealing with ruins or disused buildings, Ecositana focuses its work on Restoration (or Reconstruction). Restoration is an intervention that involves significant structural work. Typically, restoration involves completely rebuilding the roof, reinforcing the walls, redoing the entire electrical and plumbing system, and integrating new thermal and acoustic insulation. It includes new windows, flooring, completely new interior finishes, and the introduction of contemporary materials to stabilize the structure and provide the property with safety and modern comfort. Restoration is a profound and complex undertaking to deliver a functional home.

Renovation, on the other hand, is more related to the revitalization or beautification of a space, without significant structural changes. Renovation work essentially involves light elements, such as painting, furniture, minor alterations, or flooring replacement.

By vocation and specialty, Ecositana is your partner for deep Restoration projects.

Note: Ecositana only performs renovations within a radius of approximately 45 km or 40 minutes around its headquarters (more or less) and reserves the right to refuse certain projects. Restoration estimates, being complex and highly personalized, may require payment. We appreciate your understanding.