Architects: Bruno Pica & Carla Pica
Year: 2012
Photographs: David Pereira
City: Lisbon
Country: Portugal
Apartment Rehabilitation in Lisbon by Bruno Pica & Carla Pica transformed a 3-bedroom apartment in a 40-year-old building near the city center. Originally dark and compartmentalized, the redesign focused on reconfiguring the layout to enhance value and livability. The unused 70 m² patio was central to the new layout, improving natural light in the social areas. A non-structural decorative element separated and connected the kitchen and living room, adding storage. The project successfully increased the apartment’s intrinsic value by enhancing natural light and integrating interior and exterior spaces.
This project focused on rehabilitating a 3-bedroom apartment in a 40-year-old building near central Lisbon. The original layout featured excessive compartmentalization and small living areas, resulting in an uncomfortable environment with dark corners and limited natural light.
The primary goal of this project was to completely overhaul the apartment’s internal layout to maximize its intrinsic value. A key factor in the project’s success was recognizing the significance of the 70 square-meter external patio in reconfiguring the interior space. By shifting the apartment’s social areas towards the previously unused patio, the design allowed for full utilization of the outdoor space and significantly improved natural light in the kitchen and living room.
The relationship between the internal living areas is defined by a non-structural, decorative element that separates the kitchen from the living room while creating a visual and physical connection between the social and private spaces. This element uses a distinct material to emphasize its role in shaping the layout and also serves a practical function by providing essential storage for the surrounding areas.
The final outcome aligns with the goal of enhancing the home’s intrinsic value by revitalizing its external living spaces. This approach emphasizes the importance of natural light, the creation of neutral spaces, and strengthening the connection between the interior and exterior areas of the home.
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Project Location
Address: Lisbon, Portugal
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
