Cascais Music Conservatory

The Cascais Music Conservatory occupies a remodeled single-family residence from the early 20th century, later used as a guest house. The building is the home of the OCCO (Cascais and Oeiras Chamber Orchestra) and its music school, comprising also a small auditorium. The existing building houses the teaching rooms and administrative spaces and, for the auditorium, a new extension was built, facing a small palm garden. The external shape of the original house was preserved, but new materials were used such as a metallic roof and a dark pigmented render on the walls. On the interior spaces the contrast between the existing walls and new elements is deliberately exposed. The extension sits below ground level of the existing building, with its roof acting as a terrace, while its more complex geometry and generous openings establish a strong connection with the surroundings and the garden.