The former Assembleia da Granja occupies an entire block in the centre of Praia da Granja. Built in the late 19th century, it emerged from the seasonal social life of the time and became a landmark in the local cultural landscape. Figures such as King Carlos I, Queen Amélia, Eça de Queirós, Camilo Castelo Branco and Sophia de Mello Breyner were regular visitors. Ramalho Ortigão described Granja as “the most glorious, the freshest, the cleanest of Portugal’s seaside resorts”.

After more than forty years of abandonment, the structure had reached a state of imminent ruin. The project was guided by a clear intention: to preserve the collective memory associated with the Assembleia da Granja while constructing a structure suited to contemporary modes of living. The advanced state of deterioration made demolition unavoidable, enabling reconstruction with the same scale, volume and architectural language. The stones of the eastern pediment were carefully dismantled, numbered and reassembled in their original position - an anastylosis ensuring material continuity.

The reconstruction does not attempt to conceal the passage of time. The restored architectural language of the original building coexists with a western extension, defined by a sculptural brise soleil that abstractly evokes the centenary trees surrounding the site.

An east–west axis organises the project, structuring access and circulation. It intersects an interior courtyard conceived as a cloister, bringing natural light and ventilation into the shared spaces and residential units. This becomes the most unexpected spatial moment of the project, only fully revealed from within the block.

The programme comprises 14 residential units and two spaces for retail or services. The typologies range from compact apartments to units with mezzanines or generous west-facing terraces, some featuring double-height living areas and a direct relationship with the late afternoon light over the sea. The basement extends across almost the entire plot and benefits from natural light and ventilation through roof lanterns and permeable access elements.

The intervention repairs a long-standing void in the urban frontage of Granja and reinstates a significant presence for those arriving by train. By introducing new residents and spaces for public use, it also contributes to the local economy in a territory still shaped by seasonal rhythms