Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

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
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×