Located at Largo do Intendente 57, this renovation project restored the building’s residential use, ensuring a more permanent function that contributed to the revitalization of this neighborhood. This area of the city had been abandoned for a long time, leading to the degradation of many buildings.
In this case, the building’s interior had already been fully demolished, with only the west and south façades remaining. This renovation was considered essential for maintaining the consolidated image of Largo do Intendente.
For the new construction, a U-shaped layout was proposed, consisting of a central volume in direct relation to the existing west façade and two lateral volumes—one to the north and the other to the south—facing the stairs of Beco do Benformoso. These volumes enclose a space of gardens and patios while preserving the natural contours of the terrain.
Just as the design of the original façade was preserved—retaining as many characterizing elements as possible, such as spans, finishing materials, stonework, cornices, and balusters—the design of the new façades also sought to create a language that would harmonize with the rest of the building.
Given the eastward orientation, a metal framework was introduced to support the new balconies and access galleries to the apartments, while also serving as a shading element. In addition to being a feature characteristic of Lisbon’s backyards, this reticulated structure establishes a connection between the new construction and the existing façades.
Regarding the roofs, the original gable morphology with red clay tiles was preserved.
The functional organization of the development was structured around a program of 49 units, with areas ranging between 80 m² and 120 m².
It is important to note that access to the ground-floor apartments is made directly from the street, maintaining the original door design and enhancing the relationship with the urban environment. The remaining units are distributed across the upper floors, taking advantage of the surrounding height variations to create duplex apartments that maximize these spatial relationships.
