Located on Avenida da Liberdade 49, this refurbishment intervention aimed to restore the building’s residential use, thus resuming the initial vocation of this avenue in the center of Lisbon.

This change of use from offices to housing implied an alteration of the façade to adapt its image to the new function. The existing office building, designed by Risco Architecture Office, employed a system of metrics and proportions inspired by the adjacent buildings (from the late 19th century), to which a new “layer” was added.

The principle of this new intervention was essentially the addition of a new skin, a new thickness to the façade, allowing not only for the creation of balcony spans but also for a system of reliefs and shadows designed through the stonework. The existing cantilever at the first-floor level, approximately 25 cm, provided a pretext to gain depth and align it with the façade of the adjoining building to the south. Thus, this new “skin” was achieved by using new materials and construction systems with distinct characteristics, resulting in a unique “plasticity” while ensuring the necessary thermal and acoustic comfort.

A new series of metallic elements, such as handrails, trims, and window frames, were also introduced as finishing touches. These elements reinforced the ambition to regain the unique scale of detail that this building can achieve in this specific urban context.

A classic tripartite system was adopted, with a well-defined base and roof, redefining the recessed floor with “filigree” supporting elements and large glazing to “dematerialize” this volume.

The materiality of the façade was conceived in continuity with the surrounding buildings and their constructive tradition. The colors and textures chosen followed this principle. The new “skin” was made using prefabricated precast concrete elements to create a “terrazzo” effect, from the selection of pigmentation to the texture and exposure of the aggregates. This approach also facilitated a clear dialogue with the metallic finishing elements.

The reinforced concrete structure and fungiform slabs allowed for great flexibility at the plan level. The original window frames, previously aligned with the exterior limit of the façade, were replaced by new sliding window frames positioned along the interior wall, enabling access to exterior balconies.