Picturesquely built upon a hillside on the east bank of the Rio Mondego, the Portuguese city of Coimbra is known for its university, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world, but its charm lies in its kaleidoscopic architecture that features a mixture of buildings spanning nearly a millennium. Part of this historical spectrum is the “Redondo”, a four-storey terraced house built at the beginning of the 20th century which has been thoroughly renovated by Portuguese architects João Branco and Paula del Río of Branco-Delrio Arquitectos and artfully photographed by Lisbon-based architectural photographers do mal o menos.

As the last in a row of four houses, located at an awkwardly oblique street junction, the building was designed with a rounded, semi-cylindrical façade topped with a curved, circular gable bestowing upon it an elegant monumentality. Subtly ornate, the building’s exterior has been meticulously restored to its original glory while the interior has been thoughtfully transformed to cater to the modern needs of its occupants while preserving the stately ambience of its distinct heritage.