Investing in our roots, protecting heritage

Preserving our country’s cultural heritage, as well as contributing to the development of the local economy, are essential pillars in the increasingly frequent rehabilitation of urban and rural spaces. These objectives are also always present in the business activity of the Telhabel Group.
To give you an example, I would like to tell you about the restoration of the Palácio da Igreja Velha, located in Vermoim and built in 1881, which is the most iconic proof of our social commitment, of being able to overcome challenges and create innovative economical projects.
For many decades, the Palácio da Igreja Velha was the mansion of an important rural estate, in the baroque style, with two crenulated towers and a chapel annexe – the S. Francisco de Assis chapel – in neo-gothic style, a very rare example in Portugal. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and vast  ​​green areas, in perfect harmony with the architectural adaptation, which never neglected the buildings’ outlines and the spirit of the place. The old/new counterpoint was asserted by the blend of regional materials and other more current ones, with original construction processes, which were executed by Telhabel - Construções, S.A., maintaining a chromatic and volumetric harmony in the landscape.
The architecture project, by architects Vicente Gouveia, Nuno Poiarez and Pedro Afonso, was featured in several international publications and was awarded at the Popular Choice A+ Awards in the Details-Architecture + Metal category of the Architizer competition, due to the Corten steel structure that covers a large part of the building, which, together with the granite, wood and concrete, gives substance to the concept inspired by the ancient granaries of the region. This traditional rural structure is found mainly in the north of Portugal and is the subject of ethnographic and tourist interest.
Today, the Palácio da Igreja Velha is a splendid venue for events, unique in Portugal, which provides an unforgettable encounter with the history, nature, uniqueness and the hospitality of the north of the country. And, from my perspective, this is the desirable strategy for an increasingly attractive Portugal, capable of sustainable development and industrial and business growth that go hand in hand with the best that we have and what must be preserved.