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Architects: André Espinho Arquitectura
- Year: 2014
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Photographs:Giorgio Bordino
Text description provided by the architects. This kind of intervention stands for a new approach and vision on the built heritage of big cities which, most of time, are left to abandonment and abrasion of time for diferent reasons, either these are historical, social or economic.
In this example we can highlight the Investor´s will and initiative, allong with the knowledge of technicians, Architects, Engineers and builders to restore life and dignity to a building that was in a great state of degradation and which purpose has been mischaracterized over time. In a contemporary perspective and in it´s own context, we tried to enhance the experience of inhabiting the intrinsic features of the new and the old, in order to keep the most of the building´s character and expression also in the articulation of its interior space.
At the Interior architecture level we emphasized its complexity and structural heterogeneity, choosing the main resistant elements of the building as guides for the design of the space, articulating circulations and interior compartments, as well as its whole relationship with the street and patio.
On the other hand this work is unique in what concernes for the interventions of artists who, by installing art works in the building area, raised the subject of art and rehabilitation symbiosis.
The property, wich was in great state of degradation, is located in the current parish of St. Maria Maior, Lisbon, which is integrated in Level II of Archaeological Value Areas. The 1755 earthquake consequently led to a rehabilitation phase; then, eighteenth-century polychrome panels that existed there were replaced by Pombalino´s panels.
Structurally the building is had two construction phases: The Pre-Pombalina (XIII-XV century) in the ground floor and the 1st floor, and the Post-Pombalina (XVIII century) in the 2nd floor and attic tapped. The rehabilitation of the building aimed to recover its value and to convert its use for local housing and tourism. Building features the most energy efficient solution, (A) classification, award in the 2015 National Prize for Urban Rehabilitation, Portugal
