Carmo Terraces

Surrounding the Convent of Carmo, in the patios previously occupied by various construction, there are now routes that culminate in the viewpoint of Terraços do Carmo (Carmo Terrace). This intervention concludes the Plan for the Rehabilitation of the Damaged Area of Chiado — a project by architect Álvaro Siza — initiated after the great fire that happened in 1988. The built ensemble wisely rebuilds the memory of the city. Coming up from Pátio B, we discover what laid hidden, observing the magnificent south gate of the church and experiencing the terraces, only previously known in the representations of Lisbon’s Topographic Atlas of 1856, by Filipe Folque. The route created conquers the existing topography, enabling the access to Rua do Carmo or Rua Garrett from Largo do Carmo, through ramps, stairs and a public elevator incorporated in the rehabilitation of the Leonel Building, which partially supports the bridged access to the Santa Justa Elevator. Articulating the various spaces in an integrated fashion, this intervention allied the site’s patrimonial valorisation to the creation of a public leisure area with esplanades, contributing to its urban integration and stimulating its experiencing. It was awarded with the 2015 Valmor Prize.