Building Rehabilitation: A Sustainable Alternative to Demolition

At MJARC Architects, we believe that building rehabilitation is more than preserving — it is about honoring collective memory, reducing environmental impact, and creating new opportunities from what already exists. Moreover, this approach offers an intelligent and sustainable way to build the future without erasing the past.

Why Choose Building Rehabilitation

At a time when sustainability is a global priority, rethinking the way we build has become essential. At MJARC Architects, we view the rehabilitation of buildings as an act of environmental, cultural, and social responsibility.
More than reconstructing, we aim to give new life to existing structures, valuing the structural, historical, and symbolic potential of each building.
By doing so, we drastically reduce the carbon footprint, improve resource efficiency, and preserve the identity of places.

Sustainability and Memory in Urban Rehabilitation

Building rehabilitation goes far beyond aesthetics — it is also a way to preserve collective memory and the unique character of cities.
Every restored wall, beam, or façade carries stories and values that deserve to be retained.
At the same time, reusing existing structures avoids waste and reduces the extraction of new raw materials, promoting a circular economy and a more conscious architectural approach.

However, the rehabilitation of old buildings in Portugal is often seen as “risky”, especially when properties have remained vacant for decades.
Over time, materials such as concrete, timber, or masonry can deteriorate, raising questions about their safety and viability.
For this reason, every rehabilitation project begins with a rigorous technical assessment.
We carry out structural tests and diagnostic evaluations to determine the actual condition of existing materials, ensuring that recovery is both safe and feasible — without requiring full demolition.
Consequently, we preserve architectural and historical value while guaranteeing durability and compliance with current regulations.

Building Rehabilitation Stories at MJARC Architects

1. Green View Tower: Rewriting History Without Erasing the Past

Among MJARC Architects’ most emblematic rehabilitation projects is the Green View Tower in Covilhã — locally known as Torre de Santo António.
After more than half a century of abandonment and controversy, the building represents both an architectural and symbolic challenge.
Our proposal preserves over 65% of the original structure — including beams, columns, and slabs — and 75% of the original core, minimizing the need for new materials and reducing embodied carbon emissions.
Thus, more than a recovery, this project is a sustainable reinterpretation that restores a landmark to the city with a renewed identity.

2. Riverside: Sustainability Alongside the Dão River

In Santa Comba Dão, the Riverside project demonstrates how rehabilitation can transform what was forgotten into something meaningful.
Situated on the hillside overlooking the Dão River, the building had remained unfinished for more than 20 years.
We chose to reuse the existing structure, retaining 90% of the original framework and 75% of the core.
Additionally, the intervention reduced the overall massing, opening the building to the landscape and strengthening its relationship with the territory.
The result is an environmentally responsible work that combines technical precision, aesthetics, and landscape integration.

3. Cicioso Boutique Hotel: Preserving the Past to Shape the Future

In Évora, the Cicioso Boutique Hotel reflects MJARC Architects’ commitment to safeguarding architectural heritage and reinforcing local identity.
We rehabilitated an essential 20th-century building, respecting its original structure and architectural elements, while introducing new standards of comfort and energy efficiency.
In this way, we created a contemporary space that keeps the memory of the place alive — a harmonious dialogue between past and present, tradition and modernity.

The Importance of Detail in Heritage Rehabilitation

We are currently developing several rehabilitation projects for historic manor houses, both for private living and heritage-based tourism.
These interventions require a high degree of detail and technical precision.
Our approach combines innovative materials with contemporary technologies, ensuring thermal, acoustic, and structural performance — all while preserving the authenticity of the site.
We maintain elements such as original tiles, restored timber frames, decorative stucco, and natural-stone flooring, reinterpreting them through a contemporary architectural language.
Thus, each rehabilitation becomes a new reading of the original building, respecting its history and enhancing its value.

Building With Consciousness Is Also Rehabilitating

At MJARC Architects, we see rehabilitation as an opportunity for innovation and sustainability. Every rehabilitated building becomes a bridge between past and future, memory and modernity. Given its importance, there are even numerous building rehabilitation incentives provided by the state.
Ultimately, to rehabilitate is to build consciously — respecting what already exists, reducing environmental impact, and elevating collective heritage.

If you wish to rehabilitate a building or give new life to an existing structure

Contact us and discover how to transform your project into an example of sustainable, responsible, and identity-driven architecture.