Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

A Former Fish Warehouse in Portugal Is Reimagined as a Brilliant Villa Filled With Light

A Former Fish Warehouse in Portugal Is Reimagined as a Brilliant Villa Filled With Light

Atelier Rua and Studio Stories transform an old building in Olhão, Portugal, into a minimalist guesthouse with arched doorways, a rooftop terrace, and a private pool.

Portuguese architecture firm Atelier Rua and Belgium-based interior design firm Studio Stories teamed up to deliver a carefully renovated rental property in southern Portugal’s Algarve region where guests can unwind surrounded by rolling hills, vibrant villages, and pristine coastal views.



Casa Dois is one of three existing guesthouses from the new hospitality brand, the Addresses.

Located in the quaint fishing town of Olhão, Casa Dois marks one of three converted Portuguese guesthouses within a growing portfolio from the Addresses, a boutique hospitality brand. Its updated design is anchored in a philosophy that stays true to the region’s heritage and overall atmosphere. "The Algarve’s good weather and traditional lifestyle were relevant to the design," says Francisco Freitas, principal architect of Atelier Rua.



From the ground-level patio, an original spiral staircase leads up to the private rooftop terrace.

The two-story guesthouse features a private outdoor space on both levels to "recreate the social and leisure spaces of a traditional Algarve home," adds Ana Tomé, who works alongside Freitas as principal architect at Atelier Rua. The outdoor gathering spaces also help to bring natural light inside the guest residence-a feat the architects achieved by taking advantage of the former warehouse’s existing architectural elements.



A fish depot from the former warehouse was transformed into a marble plunge pool on the patio.

To create the main-level patio, for example, the architects demolished an existing vaulted ceiling while preserving two original arches to create an indoor/outdoor connection with the open-plan living spaces. From the private patio, an original spiral staircase leads to the açoteia (Portuguese for "rooftop terrace"), which offers impressive views of the Rio Formosa, the Algarve’s nearly 40-mile-long coastal lagoon.



The Atelier Rua architects renovated the converted guesthouse with whitewashed walls and terra-cotta floors to emulate traditional building styles in southern Portugal.



Subtle nods to the building’s industrial leanings can be seen in the thin steel framing elements and handrails that line the açoteia, which translates to "rooftop terrace" in Portuguese.

Throughout the interior and exterior spaces, terra-cotta floors add warmth to the home’s primarily white palette. "One could say white is the color of the cubist city of Olhão," says Freitas. "White and terra-cotta elements are commonly used in construction throughout the south of Portugal."



Two beautifully preserved arches with glass doors and windows establish an indoor/outdoor connection between the patio and open-plan living spaces.



Warm, earth-toned furnishings contrast the guesthouse’s primarily white palette.

Inside the guesthouse, Belgian design firm Studio Stories focused on "soft colors and earthy tones," says creative director Katrien de Jonghe. The team took advantage of the former fish warehouse’s "big curves and high ceilings" to render a calm and relaxed vibe throughout the interiors.



Belgian interior design firm Studio Stories sourced handmade ceramics and vases from local shops and flea markets throughout southern Portugal’s Algarve region.



The Portuguese warehouse conversion includes two bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom.

For the smaller details, de Jonghe’s team perused the region’s shops and flea markets to source a selection of handmade ceramics and vases. The interior spaces are intended to evoke the experience of "following the sun," de Jonghe explains. "We tried to create different corners that lend themselves to hanging out at different times of the day."



A wood-burning fireplace sits between two arched doorways in the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living areas.



Award-winning Portuguese architecture firm Atelier Rua renovated the former fish warehouse, while Belgian interior design firm Studio Stories curated the interior.

Casa Dois accommodates four people, with two bedrooms and two en suite bathrooms. While the specialized concierge service offered by the Addresses can help guests arrange local tours-such as horseback riding and surf lessons-visitors might find that one of the greatest rewards from staying at the Portuguese guesthouse comes from sipping a morning coffee on the rooftop and soaking up the surrounding coastal views.



Each of the guesthouses in the Addresses’ portfolio blend original Portuguese architecture and heritage details with contemporary influences and amenities.



Casa Dois is located in the heart of the Algarve's largest fishing port-the quaint village of Olhão, which is just 30 minutes from the Faro Airport in southern Portugal.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Forces Saudi Arabia Into Major Oil Production Shut-In
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Forces Saudi Arabia Into Major Oil Production Shut-In
Saudi Arabia Slashes Oil Output as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Cuts Deep Into Gulf Revenues
Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Scene Presses Ahead as Nation Navigates Regional War
Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact Faces Real-World Constraints as Iran War Escalates
Saudi Arabia Offers Two Million Barrels of Crude From Red Sea as War Disrupts Gulf Exports
Formula One Faces Tens of Millions in Lost Revenue if Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Races Are Cancelled
Formula One Set to Cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Amid Escalating Middle East War
Saudi Arabia Downs Dozens of Iranian Drones in Major Defensive Operation
Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Output by About Twenty Percent as Iran War Disrupts Gulf Energy Flows
Formula One Set to Cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Amid Escalating Iran War
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Saudi Arabia Launches Royal Institute of Anthropology to Examine Social Transformation
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Arrives in Saudi Arabia for High-Level Talks
Saudi Aramco Turns to Ukrainian Drone Interceptors to Shield Oil Infrastructure from Iranian Threats
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Rising Iran Conflict Casts Shadow Over Saudi Arabia’s $38 Billion Gaming Industry Ambitions
Iran Launches Missile and Drone Strikes Across Gulf as Oil Prices Surge Past $100
Saudi Air Defences Destroy Three Drones Targeting Strategic Shaybah Oil Field
Debate Grows Over Saudi Arabia’s Role in Sudan War Amid US Alliance Questions
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Travels to Saudi Arabia After Discussions With Iranian Leadership
Two Strategic Pipelines Allow Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Bypass the Strait of Hormuz
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
Iran warns of $200 oil as forces target merchant ships in Gulf
Japan to Release 45 Days of Oil Reserves Amid Iran Conflict
Three Commercial Vessels Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz, Thai-Flagged Ship Damaged and Crew Evacuated
Saudi Red Sea Oil Exports Set for Record in March as Kingdom Reroutes Crude Amid Hormuz Crisis
Saudi Arabia Seeks Belgian Military Support After Iranian Missile Attacks
Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Designate Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organisation
Saudi Aramco Plans Dual Gulf and Red Sea Export Routes as Iran Crisis Disrupts Oil Shipments
Saudi Cabinet Condemns Iranian Attacks and Reaffirms Kingdom’s Right to Defend Its Sovereignty
Ukraine Deploys Counter-Drone Teams to Gulf States as Iranian Drone Threat Expands
Bahrain Grand Prix Faces Uncertainty as Saudi Arabia Works to Keep Formula One Race on Track
Saudi Arabia Faces New Strategic Dilemma in Yemen as Regional War Reshapes Calculations
OPEC Confirms Saudi-Led Oil Output Increase as Iran War Disrupts Global Energy Markets
Pakistan Pledges Rapid Support for Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
Aramco Warns Global Oil Market Faces ‘Catastrophic’ Shock if Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
Iran Launches Drone and Missile Attacks Across Gulf Targets Including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain
Saudi Arabia Elevates Fahad Al-Saif as Vision 2030 Enters Crucial Implementation Phase
Saudi Aramco Expands Routes to Move Oil Without Reliance on the Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Reaffirm Mutual Defense Cooperation Following Iran Strike
Saudi Arabia Plans Major Ukrainian Arms Deal to Counter Iranian Drone Threat
Pentagon Signals Intensification of U.S. Air Campaign as Iran Conflict Escalates
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Raises Prospect of Mutual Defense Pact With Saudi Arabia Amid Iran Conflict
Why Saudi Arabia Is Unlikely to Have Wanted U.S. Airstrikes on Iran
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Oil Exports Set to Reach Record High as Gulf Routes Face Disruption
Saudi Arabia Pushes East–West Oil Pipeline Toward Full Capacity as Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Global Energy Flows
Oil Prices Retreat From Peak as G7 Weighs Release of Strategic Reserves
×