The project consists of an apartment renovation in the Penha de França neighborhood in Lisbon, Portugal. The apartment was in reasonable condition, but the partitioned layout and outdated infrastructure demanded surgical intervention. The work consisted of ‘silent’ adaptations to the existing structure, supplemented by contemporary additions serving different functions.
The living areas facing the street were originally divided into three rooms. By removing a wall and replacing it with a new element—a shelf—the relationship between the dining and living rooms became brighter and more transparent. An internal alcove connecting to the living room, which had been deprived of natural light, was opened to create a quiet workspace.
As working from home has become part of domestic life, this room supplements the office on the opposite side of the dining room, allowing for two independent workstations in the apartment.
On the side facing the inner courtyard, the kitchen was kept in its original place, along with two bedrooms. A series of new structures ‘detached’ from the walls, like furniture populated by objects, fulfill the kitchen’s functions. The master bedroom was converted into a suite by linking it to the original bathroom, which was previously accessed via the outdoor balcony.
A communal bathroom in the center of the apartment was added. The bathroom furniture is open and transparent, mirroring the style of the elements positioned throughout the apartment. The balcony, which was previously closed, was reopened to allow natural light and air to flow into the bedrooms. Part of the balcony was kept as a laundry area connected to the kitchen.
The color palette used for the paint and finishes consisted of light beige tones, creating a dialogue with neighboring buildings in this part of Lisbon. The materiality of the new structures, made from metal and local limestone, gives the apartment a unique identity. Everyday objects and utensils round off the project, bearing witness to domestic life.
Fact File
Project name: Penha Apartment
Firm Name: Paulo Moreira Architectures
Architect Name: Paulo Moreira
Collaboration: HermÃnio Santos, Nahed Nabhan, Elena Borghese, Laurane Coornaert, Francesca Cazzulani, and Cynthia Iao
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Size: 170 m2.
Photo credit: Ivo Tavares Studio
