Andresen House

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Campo Alegre

Location

Casa Andresen is located in Porto, in the Campo Alegre area. This unique building is set within the lush landscape of the Botanical Garden of the University of Porto, offering a refuge of tranquility and nature in the heart of the city. Its privileged position allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding gardens, inviting an atmosphere of serenity and discovery.

A Residing Past

The history of Casa Andresen dates back to the 19th century. In 1875, João Silva Monteiro, a "brasileiro de torna-viagem" (a Brazilian who returned home after making his fortune), began the construction of the palace we know today, in what was then called Quinta do Campo Alegre. Years later, in 1895, the property passed into the hands of João Henrique Andresen Júnior and his wife, Joana Andresen. It was this couple who gave final form to the residence and its gardens, imbuing them with a romantic style that marked the era. Later, after its acquisition by the State and transfer to the University of Porto, the building underwent rehabilitation. During these interventions, it was possible to restore the original reddish color of the facade, inspired by "borra de vinho verde tinto" (the reddish sediment of red 'vinho verde'), which harmoniously dialogues with the green of the gardens.

The Echo of Literature

Casa Andresen holds profound cultural significance, being a place of great literary inspiration. It was the home of the grandparents of two notable Portuguese writers: Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (1919-2004) and Ruben A. (1920-1975). Both spent a significant part of their childhood and youth in this house and its gardens, which became scenery and muse for some of their most emblematic works. A fascinating example of this connection is Sophia's reference, in her short story "A Saga", to a whale skeleton kept in the basements of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, awaiting a space of its own. Curiously, this poetic vision came true, and a whale is currently displayed in the house's grand atrium, fulfilling her description in an almost premonitory way.

A Center for Knowledge and Biodiversity

Currently, Casa Andresen is the headquarters of the Biodiversity Gallery, Ciência Viva Center. Inaugurated in 2017, this gallery is a dynamic hub of the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto. Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Biodiversity Gallery invites visitors to explore the vastness of life on Earth, the evolution of species, and biological diversity. With an innovative museological project, the space integrates science, art, and literature, providing an immersive and enriching experience about the natural world.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt