A Luminous Apartment Mixes Character Charm with Contemporary Style in Lisbon

S. Bento by Arkstudio

Located in São Bento neighbourhood in Lisbon, Portugal, this short rental delight mixes the character and charm of old Lisbon apartments and the conform of a contemporary home.

The renovation work was commission to Portuguese architect Margarida Matias of Arkstudio, who coordinated the project by distance, as her clients were located in Brazil, in collaboration with AYH a Portuguese agency dedicated to scouting clients for architects and interior designers.

The frequent travels from Brazil to Europe made its owners consider to buy an apartment in Lisbon to stay while they were visiting the country and to rent for short stays while they were back in Brazil.

Many old houses in Lisbon have inside rooms with no natural light or air circulation, this project aims to improve the inner quality of the space by opening a whole in a wall of a interior room, without windows.

Therefore, the main challenge was to bring natural light into every room of the house. This was resolved by removing one of the walls in this room with no windows and moving the kitchen to this area.

From this solution, the kitchen opened to the living room conforming a big open-plan living space full of natural light. The master bedroom was moved where the previous kitchen was located, the goal is to give natural light taking advantage of the mooring sun and to have natural air circulation inside the sleeping room.

An elegant colour palette of whites and neutrals makes the space feel calm, while a mix of natural materials add textural beauty and interest. The decor blends mid-century modern pieces with other contemporary choices.

Photos by: Arkstudio & Rodrigo Cardoso