The building on Rua de S. João da Praça is a fine example of a Lisbon property from the Mariano period – the transition from the 18th to the 19th century. It stands on one of the earliest occupation sites in the capital and at the heart of the former Roman city. The latter had great proximity to the waterline and an exceptional view over the Mar da Palha, which is why the popularity of this location has endured for more than twenty centuries. The building’s facade has an erudite design that points to the participation of an architect in its conception and is distinguished by its late-Baroque Lioz stonework. Fashionable at the time of construction, this stonework can also be seen in the Estrela basilica. Inside there are other highlights: the vaulted lower floor, the well-carved stonework, the high-quality tiles and the mural paintings – a characteristic of old Lisbon housing.

In the intermediate floor apartments, we are preserving the original paintings and tiles of high heritage value as they help the spaces retain their Pombalino/ Mariano character. On the stairs, the exceptionally designed panelling, which has currently been dismantled, will be restored and reapplied. In the shop that opens onto Beco dos Linhos, the vaulted structures and the paving stones are being preserved wherever possible.

The design sought to identify the most important assets present as anchors of the renovation strategy, finding the opportunities the building offered for reinvention, while providing the contemporary standards of living. The panorama of the Tagus river is one of the main intangible qualities identified, so from the second floor upwards the aim was to give this view to all the apartments. To achieve this, the back facade, which has great views over the river, was reconfigured so that balconies could be added to the apartments.

Every space has something unique and distinctive: a view, a painted room, tiled panelling, a double-height ceiling or a vaulted ceiling. The project aims to unify all these distinctive spaces, accepting and integrating its complexity, in which modern comforts do not translate into a loss of character but strengthen it instead as the material and immaterial qualities that make the property so special will be carefully preserved.

For the ground floor and the attic, preserving the original elements is less important, giving us the opportunity to improve their configurations. An apartment will be created at the rear of the ground floor, which once housed a shop, taking advantage of the high ceilings and the large windows, which are almost of a palatial scale. In the attic, two duplex apartments with mezzanines were created, making good use of the double-height ceiling, the view and the natural light of these upper floors