ARX

The project involved the conversion of an office building on the corner of Rua Castilho and Rua Padre António Vieira into a residential building. Designed by architect Tomás Taveira, the existing building was given a new use as luxury apartments, in keeping with the high standards of the surrounding area.

The project began with the intention of reusing part of the existing reinforced-concrete structure. However, the need to introduce balconies, together with structural deficiencies revealed by surveys, led to the demolition and extensive reconfiguration, reinforcement and extension of much of the existing structure. The building’s height is also informed by the scale of its urban surroundings, including taller buildings in the area and the proximity of Parque Eduardo VII.

The project seeks to establish a broader relationship with Lisbon through the reinterpretation of its characteristic openings, white stone materiality, and qualities of lightness and luminosity. Textured surfaces and changing light conditions give the façades a constantly evolving expression.

The building also creates new ways of experiencing the surrounding landscape, with generous balconies and new openings oriented towards the Tagus and São Jorge Castle. The entrance was relocated from Rua Padre Vieira to Rua Castilho, establishing a stronger relationship with the monumental Parque Eduardo VII.

The architectural language deliberately avoids ostentation, focusing instead on notions of nobility and refinement expressed through material and detail. The façades are clad almost entirely in Vila Viçosa marble, complemented by oxidised brass at the entrance and bronze-anodised aluminium on the balconies.

Inside, the main entrance hall, designed in collaboration with José Pedro Croft, integrates architecture, artwork and the surrounding landscape into a carefully choreographed spatial experience. This attention to detail extends to bespoke elements throughout the building, including door handles and the spa pool fittings.

A sense of nobility is further reinforced by the contrast between the vertical stone façade grid and the darker, warmer interiors, where wood and dark bronze-anodised aluminium create a more intimate atmosphere. Fluted detailing in the stone emphasises the building’s verticality, elegance and the expressive mineral character of the material.