visitor dreams in silence. Its houses turn into the interior of the small valley, facing the stream that empties into the larger Caldeira stream. This small stream, or rather, the two small streams that merge close to the upstream houses of the “baixio”, together with the configuration of the valley and its integration into the volcanic crater, are the fundamental organization elements of the space and its views: the singing of the streams, scored by the whispering of the leaves of the trees and amplified by the shape of the valley, which isolates us from outside noises, is a constant. The “baixio” da Caldeira is one of the most densely wooded areas of the crater, with the exception of a few existing woods of the monotonous, but inevitable,19th century English gardens (e.g., Monserrate, in Sintra, Portugal). That is, the intention is not to rebuild, but rather to consolidate the existing ruins, making then inhabitable, and adopting in an unapologetic way a totally contemporary architectural point of view.

Seen from the exterior of the houses, Caldeira, which will remain almost invisible for those passing through the local road, will have the minimalistic magic of an abandoned village, making us stop and think, and inviting us to peacefully explore the place and uncover the secrets we imagine hidden inside its houses.

The façade of house 8.

The interiors will contrast strongly with the exterior: the contemporary comfort, the light, and the warm aura of the interiors, seen through the windows, especially at dusk, will invite us to enter. The windows