The building was constructed in the 18th century.[1] The name águas Férreas appeared, when in 1784 they discovered a sulphurous hot spring that originated a spa located at the beginning of Rua de Águas Férreas, starting at Rua do Melo.[1] The area was ceded for public use by the municipal council who ordered the construction of a fountain 1804, after tests of quality.[1][2]
In 1988, the Centro de Formação de Jornalistas (Journalism Training Centre) proposed to the Secretária de Estado da Cultura (Secretary-of-State for Culture) that they install in the then Casa da Pedra the Museu da Imprensa (Press Museum).[1] In October of the following year, the residence was sold by David Manuel Viana da Silva e Sousa to the current property-owner.[1]
In 1995, a sculpture in homage to Oliveira Martins, authored by the sculptor José Rodrigues, was installed by the municipal council.[1]
On 5 June 1998, a dispatch was issued to begin the process of classifying the property, but which was closed on 20 June 2005, without resolution.[1]
Architecture
The building is isolated in an urban area along Rua das Águas Férreas and a lane, between Rua da Boavista and a line of Metro do Porto, near the Lapa station/stop.[1] To the south is granite wall limiting the garden with grate, to the east the gate that accesses a two-story building, and to the north constructions of smaller stature.[1] In front of the residence is the Barrio of Bouça, a complex constructed by architect Siza Vieira.[1]
The house is rectangular and very simple, tiered, consisting of ground floor and first floor coupled with a ground floor annex. It has a walled garden and opens onto the street by a small decorated portal.[1] The elongated structure includes articulated volumes, resulting from the association of a two-storey structure and single-storey floor.[1] The taller corp includes a double covering of tile and the smaller a simple tile structure. The principal facade is oriented to the east and constructed with three guillotine windows of the upper floor aligned with a pair on the ground floor, with doorway in the centre.[1] Along this facade the ground floor has two similar windows, just slightly lower. In the north, the body is constituted by three windows of the same type.[1]
The wall between the garage and house (where a statue of Oliveira Martins by José Rodrigues is situated) includes a small portico surmounted by fleur-de-lis.[1] The garden is structured on different levels with a fountain decorated with a dolphin pipe. The wall with balustrade separates the grassed area along the wall limit from a paved area in Portuguese pavement stone lined with sculptures.[1]
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