The project is located in Marvila, one of the oldest industrial and working class areas in Lisbon. The project aimed to transform an attic apartment without any living conditions into a bright and open space with a breathtaking view for the Tagus River, creating an idea of a “lighthouse”, a shelter at the top of the building, which opens for the distant views of the surrounding built environment, framed by the sky and the sea, disconnected from the disturbance of the city life. Due to the dysfunctionality of the previous configuration of the apartment and the very poor condition of its structure, it became necessary to replace the entire roof and remake all of its interiors. The main objective of this project was to create a space as open and bright as possible. To achieve this goal, we decided to contain the private areas – bedroom and bathroom – in a separate volume, disconnected from the roof, leaving the remaining open space around it as the space of a living room. Both storage and kitchenette were contained in another volume created along the living room, an element integrated in the gable wall. As a result of this intervention, we were able to create a functional, bright and open space, a space that lets you breathe and, despite its modern character, revives the spirit of the area in which it was created.
Despite this 60 m2 apartment being quite minimal and modern, in opposition to most of what we post these days, I could not help myself when this popped into our inbox as I am always mesmerized by how architects can make use of every square inch of a small and awkward space. This apartment with everything hidden away is brilliant. I’d add a couple antique chairs and centuries-old portraits and this would make for the perfect Portugal pied-à-terre. Architect: KEMA studio. Photos: Alexander Bogorodskiy and Eliza Borkowska.