ALBA, Lisbon | Portugal

In the Marvila district of Lisbon, the architectural practice Abecasis Arquitectos transformed a former warehouse for building materials into five independent townhouses. During the rebuild, the industrial character of the existing building was retained and linked with light, understated, residential architecture. 

A central requirement of the design consisted in bringing sufficient daylight and natural ventilation into the original, largely closed building. Due to strict specifications, the street facade could only be modified with care. The new entrances blend into the rhythm of the facade and leave their original influence largely unaffected. The facade was restored at the rear. Each of the five houses has a protected patio, which leads daylight and fresh air deep into the elongated floor plans. Floor-to-ceiling glazing opens up the living areas to these green courtyards and lets the interior and exterior directly intertwine. The floor plans follow a clear graduation: the lounge, dining room and kitchen are located on the ground floor in the patio area while the study and bedrooms are distributed over the two upper levels. Light surfaces, warm wood and precisely executed steel elements determine the atmosphere in the interior. The reduced material palette gives the changing daylight considerable space and translates the industrial origins of the building into a quiet cosiness. Slim window profiles, glass balustrades and understated fittings support the clear architecture. The switches and sockets of the LS 990 range in white and ivory as well as stainless steel can be naturally integrated into the material concept with their subtle surfaces.