THE FARM
LOCATION: Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
ARCHITECTURE: Pedro Vasco Ferreira Architecture Studio
YEAR: 2024
STYLE: Contemporary Heritage Restoration / Azorean Vernacular Architecture
Set within the lush landscape of São Miguel, The Farm is a contemporary boutique retreat created through the transformation of a former family residence. Designed by Pedro Vasco Ferreira Architecture Studio, the project brings together the architectural memory of an existing house and a new interpretation of the island’s natural and cultural identity.
The original building forms the foundation of the architectural concept. Rather than concealing its history, the renovation draws upon its proportions, structural elements and relationship with the surrounding garden to create a dialogue between past and present.
Dark arches, tall windows and carefully composed interior spaces establish a distinctive architectural character. The contrast between the building’s historic features and contemporary interventions gives the project a sense of depth and continuity.
The interiors are conceived as a sequence of different atmospheres inspired by the natural layers of the Azorean landscape. Volcanic textures and darker tones define the lower level, while the upper spaces introduce softer materials, expressive colours and references to traditional island homes.
A sculptural staircase forms an important architectural element, connecting the different levels and organising the transition between the building’s contrasting interior environments.
Natural materials, tactile surfaces and a palette inspired by the island’s vegetation create a close relationship between architecture and place. The surrounding garden and banana grove further reinforce the project’s rural character.
The Farm offers a distinctive approach to contemporary hospitality in which architectural restoration becomes an opportunity to reinterpret local identity rather than simply preserve the appearance of the past.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Farm demonstrates how the adaptive reuse of a traditional family residence can create a contemporary hospitality experience rooted in regional identity, using expressive material contrasts, carefully preserved architectural elements and a layered interior concept inspired by the volcanic landscape and cultural heritage of the Azores.
