The project proposes the functional adaptation of a building into a residence for a religious community, basing its architectural solution on spatial introversion and programmatic rigidity. The design is organized around a reinterpretation of the cloister concept—omitting strict canonical enclosure but focusing on fraternal life and prayer. By utilizing two internal courtyards to regulate light and ventilation, the building "lives" internally, limiting street-facing openings to those strictly necessary.
The internal layout is partitioned into three distinct areas to manage circulation: a service and social zone (communal and logistical); an intimate zone (comprising five en-suite bedrooms for the sisters' exclusive use); and a semi-public zone (designed for community interaction, featuring the oratory and an activity room with direct access from the Saco Street alley, which also serves as an emergency exit). The outdoor area is enhanced by a meditation garden centered around an existing well and a small vegetable garden for internal consumption, fostering a balance between physical activity and spirituality.
Within the context of the urban rehabilitation of Loulé’s Historic Center, the proposal adopts a strategy of heritage coexistence. Following guidelines from the Algarve’s Regional Directorate for Culture and the Urban Rehabilitation Office, the decision was made to preserve the pre-existing facade. The new volume is set back from this historic plane, creating a building envelope that aligns with the height of the adjacent structure. This enclosure gains formal strength on the western elevation, where a vertical element culminates in a negative-space cross. This symbolic feature, visible from within the oratory, directs the gaze toward the sky, consolidating the sacred character of the building and clearly defining the private domain of its residents.
