STUDIO : GAMEIRO

SOLO APARTMENT

Going solo has its perks. How a small apartment in Lisbon’s historical core made us realize how every single story and process is weaved through tact and texture. Time, tempered. Light, lingering.

Sometimes we get a few briefings at the Studio which ring a different kind of bell.
As refurbishments and constructions go, either starting from scratch or having to go around (and inside) a pre-existing structure with very little space, literally, to work around, most projects follow the same rules, planning and timing, when it comes to refresh, renew, rebuild: carefully following the client’s vision translated by the Studio’s experience and expertise.
There are projects, though, that follow their own path. Either by scale or location, or by the client’s choice to actually have very few certainties, and a lot of options (and ideas).

The SOLO apartment is a rehabilitation project of a small apartment of approximately 45m2 (not too bad within the truly historical core of the city), located in the Olarias Street quarter just bang centre in the Mouraria neighbourhood of Lisbon. Inspired by the ceramic tradition which has permeated this place since the 16th century (and they still find pots and pans, and the old jewel box from the old days when digging down), we delved deep into the geological roots of the city, where clay, sandstone, and limestone intertwine in a fascinating combination of textures and materials which serve as the foundation stone for this project. As such, most techniques and settings (and the technical mastery) found in a ceramic workshop are integrated into the design, giving rise to various modular spaces which serve as distinctive transition elements, emphasising the artisanal craftsmanship and delicate colour palette (we almost did a degree in ochres) strongly evident in all the materials nature, their plasticity and ability to adapt/ transform.

LOCATION

Lisbon, Portugal

TYPOLOGY

Residential

INTERVENTION

Fit-out

STATUS

Built, 2023

DESIGN

João Gameiro, Alexandre Cisneiros, Barbara Dzavanova, Patrícia Brito Pereira, Bernardo Vinagre

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tiago Casanova

COLLABORATIONS

Florencio Dias (contractor), Vidal Fabrics (textiles), João Rolaça, Marta Raimundo (ceramics)