Blending Eras: Vitor Almeida's Award-Winning Apartment Design

Preserving History while Catering to Modern Living in a 17th Century Hotel Particulier

The project, named 'C R', is located in Lisbon, Portugal, and was completed in June 2020. The apartment, which was originally the social floor of a Hotel Particulier, boasts a gross area of 315 m2. Almeida's design intervention was aimed at maintaining and restoring the architectural heritage of the property while transforming it to cater to the needs of a modern family.

Almeida's design philosophy for this project was for the interventions to be "silent", meaning they should blend in with the pre-existing details and not dispute the attention. The history of the home is communicated through the preserved design details and extravagant touches, while the story of the residents and their preferences are subtly integrated into the apartment through modern and minimalist updates.

The apartment's unique properties lie in its successful blend of old and new. The original grandeur of the 18th-century architecture is complemented by timeless 21st-century furniture pieces. The design program focused on the maintenance and restoration of the property's architectural heritage, adding five bathrooms to the only existing one. The intervention needed to be silent, and therefore, timeless 21st-century furniture pieces were chosen to effortlessly blend with the 18th-century original grandeur.

Artisan painters were brought in to restore the mural and ceiling paintings. For the new intervention, structural furniture and partitions were created in glass and mirrors, stainless steel and brass. Various shades of velvet and different marble stones were used to play with the original colours of the apartment, creating a luxurious vibe and a seamless blend between old and new.

One of the most challenging aspects of this project was preserving the rich mural paintings and historic aspects of the property while introducing new areas key to family living, such as more bathrooms and bedrooms. The architect's solution was to design structural furniture and partitions that would not interfere with the rich decor of the walls and ceilings, creating an organic flow throughout the apartment.

In conclusion, Vitor Almeida's 'C R' project is a testament to the power of thoughtful design. It demonstrates how a deep understanding of history, combined with a keen eye for modern aesthetics, can result in a living space that respects its past while fully embracing the present. The project's success is a testament to Almeida's skill and vision, earning him well-deserved recognition in the form of the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award.