Apartment in Cruzes da Sé

Rua das Cruzes da Sé connects Largo da Sé to Largo de São João da Praça, overcoming the unevenness of the slope between Sé and Ribeira. The house takes advantage of this unevenness, which results in a surprising relationship both with the river and the hillside of the old Islamic city. The interiors are covered by frescoes that decorate the walls with no prior delimitation by the architectural project. The frescos can appear above a panelling, besides a door or bending over the corners of the rooms. Where there are no windows opening to the Tagus, the blind walls are decorated with representations of river work (with steamboats), imaginary islands and wooded banks. The restoration of this house was organized in three levels, according to conservation and functionality demands. These works kept the Pombaline structure and its spatial sequence, as well as the carpentry, ironwork and flooring. The spaces of the house were only adapted to include some elements that function as pieces of fixed furniture.