Pátio do Meco is a guesthouse located on a small promontory in the historic centre of Aldeia do Meco, Portugal. The project transforms the remains of a ruined house and a barn, both dating from the mid-twentieth century, into a contemporary hospitality complex while preserving the identity of the original vernacular ensemble.

The intervention retains the character of the existing house and its courtyard, which remain the defining elements of the project. New volumes are introduced along the site's perimeter, reconstructing the former built footprint and completing the enclosure of the plot. Conceived as minimal, abstract forms, these additions are arranged according to the required levels of privacy.

The chimney, a prominent feature of the original house and courtyard, becomes the element that mediates between two distinct construction systems and architectural languages. The main house accommodates the shared living spaces, while the new volumes contain the guest rooms and the technical and service areas.

Traditional Mediterranean elements – including the well, clay roof tiles and reed shading screens – are reinterpreted within the south-facing courtyard, reinforcing its role as the spatial and social centre of the complex. Existing stone masonry is carefully preserved and reused, establishing a measured dialogue between the historic fabric and the new intervention.

The project respects the morphology of the village by rebuilding on the footprint of the former structures, reinforcing the continuity of the existing urban fabric. Defined by a continuous and largely opaque perimeter, the complex is accessed through a single opening that connects the public street with the private courtyard. This threshold mediates the relationship between the village and the domestic realm, while preserving the introverted character of the ensemble. The intervention does not seek to replicate the past but to reinterpret it, enabling a new use to emerge from the existing fabric while preserving the memory of the place.