Maintaining the layout, preserving the surrounding space and ensuring the perfect integration of a new building with the 19th-century property were the arguments that convinced the jury to award the 2025 Januário Godinho Prize to the renovation project for Quinta das Águas, in Cabeçudos, designed by the Spaceworkers studio.
‘The rigour of the construction, the quality of the materials and the coherence of the architectural language’ were the reasons for choosing this project, which rehabilitated the manor house and tower, restored the service garage and added a new Summer Pavilion, improving comfort and reinforcing the relationship between architecture, light and landscape, restoring the familiar identity of the place.
‘When we reinstated this award, we did so precisely with the aim of encouraging this type of intervention, which enhances existing heritage and adds modernity without losing identity,’ said Mayor Mário Passos.
The current owner, Jorge Silva, who from the outset was committed to preserving the space, carried out the renovation of Quinta das Águas.
"When we had our first conversation with the architects, we emphasised precisely that: we wanted to restore the building, improve the areas and comfort, but respect the elements and setting of the house. And the result is just that, thanks to the meticulous work of everyone involved in this construction, from the architects to the engineers, the contractor and all the construction teams," said the owner.
The space now has large social areas on the ground floor, several suites distributed throughout the main house and the tower — where a skylight and a spiral staircase are the central element uniting the spaces —, with a living room, dining room, kitchen, storage rooms, laundry room and garage, as well as leisure spaces such as a cinema room, poolside changing rooms, technical areas and a transparent pavilion facing the water mirrors.
Three projects were submitted to the 2025 edition of the competition, with Quinta das Águas winning the prize of €7,000, with €2,000 going to the developer and €5,000 to the design team. The vote was cast by a jury chaired by the Department of Urban Planning and Management and consisting of a representative or designated member of the Culture and Tourism Division of the Municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão; the Northern Regional Section of the Portuguese Architects' Association; the Northern Region Engineers' Association; the Northern Regional Directorate for Culture; the Portuguese Association for Urban Rehabilitation and Heritage Protection; and Lusíada University – North, Vila Nova de Famalicão Campus – Faculty of Architecture and Arts.
