D.ª ESTEFÂNEA

The D. Estefânia Building, located in Lisbon, is a multi-family housing project based on clear principles: comfort, sustainability, and functionality. Situated within a consolidated urban context, the building presents itself as a contemporary response to current transformations in living, reflecting a careful understanding of social, economic, and regulatory dynamics.

The project's strategy is framed within a broader scenario of urban transformation. Recent data from international institutional investors indicate a growing trend of converting office buildings into residential and mixed-use properties, reinforcing the relevance of this intervention and its suitability to the new demands of the real estate market.

Originally composed of two distinct bodies, joined by the basements, ground floor, and first floor—previously intended for offices—the building underwent a profound programmatic reorganization. For reasons of functional optimization and improved health and safety conditions, the structure connecting the two blocks at the first-floor level was demolished, allowing for the creation of a new central courtyard.

This external space plays a crucial role in the project, functioning as an extension of the ground-floor apartments through the creation of small private patios for each apartment. A similar logic was applied to the upper floors, with the introduction of structures that function as balconies, reinforcing the relationship between interior and exterior and promoting a higher quality of life.

The residential program integrates 31 apartments, distributed in different types — Studios, T1 and T2 — promoting housing diversity and flexibility of occupancy. The adaptation of the layouts required meticulous design work, from the conception of furniture to the choice of lighting fixtures, materials, colors and textures, in a continuous dialogue between the original elements of the building and the new interventions introduced.

The elevations were redesigned with the aim of increasing the glazed area, significantly improving natural lighting and ventilation of the interior spaces. This new architectural expression reinforces not only the energy performance of the building, but also its integration into the urban fabric of Lisbon, contributing to the revitalization of the built environment and the creation of a contemporary, efficient and balanced residential space.