Rehabilitation in Baixa

Located on the top floor of a building in the Pombaline downtown, this apartment was rehabilitated according to the premise of respecting the original constructive system and the patrimonial structure while, at the same time, pursuing contemporaneity. The flexibility of the original typology enabled the reorganization of the social and private areas, which, lacking the richer decoration of other floors, live out of the multiple openings that connect them. In order to widen the space, the intervention opted to remove the ceiling — which was very degraded — and to rebuild the roof’s wooden structure. With respect for the original structure, the existing spaces were kept in their proportions, only opting for wider openings between compartments, providing for a more fluid circulation and encouraging a more contemporary experience. Small scale elements — such as tiles, masonry and the old doors — were reinvented and integrated in the project, gaining new functions. The reinterpretation of the original elements and constructive techniques, that suggest a contemporary Pombaline experience, are fundamental aspects of the architecture of this apartment.