Escola is an abandoned 1950s primary school in Portugal's Alentejo region, one of thousands built through the Centenary Plan — a national initiative that placed simple, thoughtfully designed school buildings in nearly every town. The front façade still reads "Escola Primária" above the entrance, and concrete arches at the rear shade what was once an outdoor patio. Fig, cork, and olive trees have slowly reclaimed the grounds over decades of disuse.

We're in the early stages of a renovation that will preserve the schoolhouse's character while adapting it into a quiet retreat. Classrooms will become bedrooms, the rear arcade will be enclosed as a gathering room, and the work will be guided by local materials — stone, plaster, concrete, custom woodwork, and Portuguese textiles.