It was built in 1920, in a time where mansions started to appear and transformed Porto in a bourgeois city. Viscount Villar D'Allen requested the construction for its own residence and its was architected by José Marques da Silva.
Although it is a mansion this house stood out because of its different from the usual architecture, only looking like Serralves House made by the same author.
In this house it is possible to find two main gardens. One in the same level has the building where there is a big lake surrounded by different trees species such as cammelias and other plants just like daisies all over the grass.
The other garden is behind the house on a below level and looks like a little forest, in the middle we can find a what it seems to be a rectangular bandstand. On one hand this second garden has not only cammelias but also clovers, and little bushes, among others. On the other hand, there are big bees coexist and delight themselves with the flowers of the bushes and some other insects typical from this open spaces.
This architectonic building is open to the general public and it's free. It is also possible to rent the space for events, like weddings, and it also has two rooms with the capacity for 150 people each for social and cultural events.
In 1991 the House of the Arts was built on the House of Allen's gardens, architected by Eduardo Souto Moura and it was distinguished with the Secil Award.
Written by: Francisca Rehbein
Translated by: Francisca Rehbein
Photos and video by: Júlia Aguiar
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