Apartment in Santos

Flooded by abundant natural light, and having large areas and a tall ceiling, this apartment bears the original structure of a 19th century Lisbon residence. The intervention tried to answer an intention to restore and preserve the original coatings and decorative elements. Promoting dialogue between its base elements and the new contemporary solutions, this dwelling is reborn from the premise of preserving what best defines its identity. The planning of the inner spaces was kept, with respect for the metrics of compartments connected by a long corridor. The prominence attributed to this central circulation axis allows for the opportunity to keep the various rooms and compartments open and communicating with each other. The visual permeability between the eastern and western areas of the apartment is one of the most striking features of its liveability. Having been cleaned off of recent interventions, which had brought impoverishing elements, prominence was given to original elements, such as the 18th century tiles that cover the kitchen’s walls. A rehabilitation based on the premise of introducing new solutions without jeopardizing the pre-existences chosen to be kept.