Lisbon’s Rua do Ouro, also known as Rua Áurea, is one of the city’s busiest and most representative streets. Its character is defined by its strict adherence to the original design of the 18th-century Baixa Pombalina district, although there is no shortage of architectural exceptions. At number 175 stands a building from the 1920s that was erected in the monumental Beaux-Arts style, which sets it apart from the neighbouring buildings. The historic building has recently been given new life as the five-star Art Legacy hotel. Portuguese studio RA\, led by architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade, is responsible for the project.
The impressive four-storey building was constructed on the busy Rua do Ouro street in the 1920s, between numbers 175 and 181, and was owned by the Sagres Insurance Company, a source of pride for the company and a testimony of nobility for its clients. The addition of a new staircase, the construction of another floor, the transformation of the attic and the installation of a lift further emphasised its class and monumentality. In the 1960s, the building was acquired by the Bensaúde Group, which made significant changes to the interiors. The ground floor housed shops and various businesses, while the upper floors were used as the owners’ offices.
After years of neglect, the magnificent building was renovated. This was a nod to Lisbon’s history and architectural heritage. Studio RA\ set itself the main objective of restoring the original character of the façade – representative of the Beaux-Arts style. To this end, among other things, the arched openings of the ground floor were reconstructed and the iron and glass details, so characteristic of modernist developments of the period, were restored. The realistic reliefs with naturalistic motifs were also restored. The entire project culminates in a mansard roof, another nod to the historic form.
Inside the hotel are 53 rooms spread over several floors. Open to the street, the ground floor houses public spaces such as the reception, lounge, bar and restaurant. The top floor, in the mansard, houses luxury suites with terraces and panoramic views of the city. One of the distinguishing features of the project is the consistently guided aesthetic line of the interiors, for which the RA studio is also responsible. The designers have opted for a contemporary yet classic-referenced décor, using, among other things, furniture and accessories from the renowned brand Moooi. “When you enter the hotel, the colours, textures and objects create a narrative that differs on each floor,” – emphasises Tiago Rebelo de Andrade, co-author of the project. Each room is based on one of four guiding colours: blue, red, yellow or green. The colour scheme is consistently present in the wallpaper, tiles and furniture. The choice was not made by accident. These intense, energetic colours are meant to provoke and build strong emotional impressions. This is what was intended to be part of the guest’s experience from the very first moments in the hotel.
The Art Legacy Hotel was created as a manifesto for the possibilities of contemporary renovation. One that does not obliterate the traces of the past, but is able to extract new value from them. The RA project is proof that heritage can be treated with respect without sacrificing modern visions and means of expression.
Project: Rebelo de Andrade
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Photography: João Guimarães
Read also: Tenement | Metamorphosis | Portugal | Elevation | Renovation | whiteMAD on Instagram
