RESTORATION AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
in Lisbon
Portugal is a young democracy, established only in 1974. As a result, there has been neither the political will nor the economic capacity to develop cities, housing and infrastructure in ways comparable to models seen in many other European countries.
One consequence is that history remains highly visible everywhere, from churches, monasteries and tiled façades to the city’s trams. There is a strong tradition of repairing what already exists, transforming buildings with new functions and bringing old craft traditions into the present.
LISBON
About Lisbon
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At the same time, Lisbon also has a modern architectural trajectory, with Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura as Pritzker Prize winners in 1992 and 2011 respectively, both of whom have created outstanding works of architecture. In addition, EXPO 98 became Portugal’s window to the world as a modern and forward-looking nation, when Lisbon hosted the World Exposition.
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Here, you can explore some of the trends and projects that make Lisbon a model for renovation and transformation, including new ways of using local materials such as tiles/clay, cork and rammed earth.
Historic palaces opening up as mixed-use projects.
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Some architectural studios and developers are working with transformation as a driver of social and cultural renewal. One example is Palácio Chiado, where an elegant 19th-century palace with frescoes, staircases and ornamentation intact has been reborn as a cultural and gastronomic venue.
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At MACAM Hotel, former aristocratic architecture from the 18th century re-emerges as a 22,000 m² hybrid combining hotel, museum and educational spaces.
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Another example is Studentville Housing by André Kong Studio, where student housing has been built on a site belonging to one of Portugal’s best-known tile manufacturers, with heat-regulating tiles on the facade.
Using local materials in new ways
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Perhaps it is also the approach to materials and surfaces that is particularly distinctive. Here, the focus is on locality and tactility, for example, the way a colored facade shifts in tone. In recent years, architectural studios have also rediscovered the use of cork, rammed earth and different types of stone, including cork as an acoustic-regulating material.
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You can also see and learn about rammed earth solutions from local producers, from production and challenges to maintenance and interaction with other materials.
INTERESTED IN A PROGRAM
Practical Information
A study programme in Lisbon is designed around your professional needs and the topics you wish to explore.
A programme may include:
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Visits to transformation projects in the city centre, along the waterfront and in historic neighbourhoods
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A cycling tour of the EXPO area
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Dialogues with architectural studios, material producers and local experts
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Insight into Lisbon’s approach to identity-preserving restoration and modern construction
We organise the entire programme, ensuring a coherent and well-structured experience. The programme can also be combined with two days in Porto, where most of Álvaro Siza’s projects are located.