Located in the centre of Ansião in central Portugal, a historic market town with public buildings that date back to the 16th century, Casa Ansião has gone through a thorough renovation courtesy of Portuguese practice Bruno Dias Arquitectura who have transformed an old rustic house into a modern family residence of minimal elegance and maximum comfort.

The existing structure, a low-rising house of modest proportions, fronts a rectangular lot bound by the neighbouring properties. The architects have retained its front façade but have completely hollowed out its interior to accommodate a hallway and a living room, as well as a study in the attic below the pitched roof. The rest of the spaces that make up the residence have been designed as a one-storey, L-shaped extension behind the renovated building thereby creating a central yard that all the rooms look out onto. This plan, which sees the new rooms turning their back on the houses next door as they look inwards, both ensures privacy and creates a communal sense among the family.