Casal de Passos, a residential development promoted and built by Grupo Arliz, has been recognised as one of the best residential projects in Portugal at the Expresso/SIC Notícias Real Estate Awards. The distinction was announced at the awards ceremony held on the evening of 5 November in Leiria, where the project secured a podium finish in the “New Build – Residential” category.
Located on Travessa de Passos, in Foz do Douro, one of Porto’s most prestigious areas, Casal de Passos is set within a historic family estate dating back to the mid-18th century. Covering approximately 6,400 m², the former estate comprised agricultural land, gardens, a main house, garage, greenhouse, storage building, chicken coop, water tank and water wheel, all enclosed by a granite wall.
It was on this heritage site that architecture practice José Carlos Cruz developed a project seeking to establish a dialogue between different architectural languages, while preserving the identity and distinctive characteristics of the property.
The approach proposed by the practice was particularly distinctive: three architects were challenged to develop three separate buildings, working independently and without contact with one another, with the aim of making the most of the site and its characteristics. The final result, however, had to work as a coherent whole.
This process gave rise to three interventions, each with its own identity: a new residential building, a new house and the restoration of the original property — an 18th-century palatial residence with the appearance and character of a small castle.
The new residential building draws inspiration from Arab and Moroccan architecture, expressed through elements such as the hand-laid herringbone flooring, exposed natural stone and ceramic pieces produced and installed individually. Some of these elements reference the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech and Flamingo Estate in Los Angeles. The new house, meanwhile, recalls the traditional barns once associated with large estates, while the original house retains its historic architectural character through the restoration works.
This combination of heritage, contemporary architecture and diverse aesthetic references is one of the defining characteristics of Casal de Passos and contributed to the recognition recently awarded by the Expresso/SIC Notícias Real Estate Awards.
The distinction follows the development’s selection as the subject of episode 50 of the “Expresso Imobiliário” programme, formerly known as “Espaços & Casas”. The feature was broadcast on SIC Notícias, SIC Mulher and SIC Internacional, showcasing the project, its history and the architectural approach behind its conception.
Comprising a residential building with ten units, ranging from two- to four-bedroom apartments, and two exclusive houses, with four- and five-bedroom layouts, Casal de Passos now has a limited number of units available:
www.grupoarliz.pt/casaldepassos | casaldepassos@arliz.co | +351 934 120 877 (Portuguese mobile network).