Located on the banks of the river Vouga, about 500 metres away from the source of the São Pedro do Sul hot water spring, the original Roman Baths complex (built in AD 1) has kept most of its primitive structure to this day and was classified as a National Monument in 1938. Its long and varied occupation over the centuries left small marks that didn’t destroy the initial Roman structure: most of the Roman wall heights and the base of the vault ceiling are still visible. 

The project aim was to restore, rehabilitate and enhance the ruins and its surroundings, through minimal interventions for its use and correct perception. That was achieved by recovering the most significant characteristics of the Roman ambience - the scale, the light and the presence of water.

In the east volume, the original dimensions, constructive systems and traditional materials were recovered. The geometry of the façade was also recovered, namely the windows and the space between, by rebuilding the tumbled-down walls. In the volume to the west, of Roman origin, the idea of a ruin was maintained. The suggestion of form and scale of the Roman space is given by the resto- ration of the original height of the building as well as the construction of a brick vault, following the configuration and marks of the original Roman vault. Over the interior swimming poll, a south-facing lantern was emplaced and the water intake and piping system were recovered. 

 João Mendes Ribeiro