Lisbon-based architecture studio Fragmentos was commissioned to design this building renovation in "Área de Reabilitação Urbana e Zona de Protecção Patrimonial da DGPC", , which sits on one of the typical slopes of the hillsides of the well-known Chiado district, overlooking the Tagus River, in Portugues capital.

The intervention aimed to rehabilitate the historic multi-family housing building, which has been subject to various expansions and alterations over the years, depriving it of its original character and historical identity, damaging a large part of the original elements, especially inside, and with structural problems in the rear body.

The renovation designed by Fragmentos introduced new typologies, completely different from the existing ones, with a programme of 22 apartments on 6 levels and an attic. To improve accessibility, a lift was incorporated without changing the configuration of the atrium and stairwell.

In the main elevation recovery of its original materials, and maintaining the existing openings configuration and the three-sided hip roof. "The recovery of the historical identity of the building in a contemporary light was the main premise of this rehabilitation."

Victor Cordon by Fragmentos. Photograph by Ivo Tavares Studio. Victor Cordon por Fragmentos. Fotografía por Ivo Tavares Studio

Victor Cordon by Fragmentos. Photograph by Ivo Tavares Studio. 

Victor Cordon by Fragmentos. Photograph by Ivo Tavares Studio. Victor Cordon por Fragmentos. Fotografía por Ivo Tavares Studio

Victor Cordon by Fragmentos. Photograph by Ivo Tavares Studio. 

Project description by Fragmentos 

Located in downtown Lisbon in the DGPC's Urban Rehabilitation Area and Property Protection Zone, this multi-family housing building has been subject to various extensions and alterations over the years, depriving it of its original character and historical identity. 

The intervention aimed to rehabilitate the historic multi-family housing building, celebrating its original form and structures, which had suffered from successive alterations and expansions. These alterations resulted in damage to a large part of the original elements, especially in the interiors, and a very pronounced structural fragility in the rear body.

Victor Cordon by Fragmentos. Photograph by Ivo Tavares Studio. Victor Cordon por Fragmentos. Fotografía por Ivo Tavares Studio
Victor Cordon by Fragmentos. Photograph by Ivo Tavares Studio.

The programme consists of 22 apartments distributed over 6 floors and an attic. The new typologies, completely different from the existing ones, were designed to be adapted to the reality and needs of contemporary living. This resulted in the addition of an attic floor to the six existing floors and the use of what was once a commercial space for the creation of a residential unit on the ground floor. To improve accessibility, a lift was incorporated without changing the configuration of the atrium and stairwell.

In the main elevation, the three-sided hip roof and the configuration of the existing openings were maintained, with the recovery of the materials that constitute them. Throughout most of the intervention, the original finishings that characterise the building and the construction style of the period were recovered or replicated when restoration was not possible, such as the stone arches or the tiles covering the majority of the façade. The recovery of the historical identity of the building in a contemporary light was the main premise of this rehabilitation.

More information

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Architects
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Fragmentos. Marcus Cerdeira, Pedro Silva Lopes, Rita Costa Especialidades, GLFV, JSJ.

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Collaborators
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Inspection.- TAN investments.

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Area
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1910.96m².

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Dates
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2023.

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Location
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R. Vítor Cordon, Lisboa, Portugal.

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Photography
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Fragmentos is led by Pedro Silva Lopes, Duarte Pinto Coelho, Miguel Santos and Marcus Cerdeira. They founded the studio in 1994 when they were still students.
 
Pedro Silva Lopes is an architect from the Universidade Lusíada in Lisbon. He collaborated in the Expo 98 in the Department of International Relations. He was responsible for managing the assembly process of the participating countries. In 1997 he collaborated with the Sociedade Berlaymont 2000 based in Brussels in the design of the new headquarters of the European Community.

Duarte Pinto Coelho is an architect from the Universidade Lusíada in Lisbon. He collaborated with the architect Ruy Jervis d´Athouguia. He worked with Rui Vieira Grego between 1996 and 2001 at Sua-kay Architects.

Miguel Santos is an architect from the Universidade Lusíada in Lisbon. He has collaborated with architects Ruy Jervis d´Athouguia, Luis Costa, Luis Narciso and Pedro Porteiro. Between 1996 and 1998 he worked for the firm PMC together with Carlos Tojal, Miguel Passos de Almeida and Paulo Jalles. He has been a member of the board of directors of the cultural institution Guilherme Cossoul since 2000. He is a founding member of the theatre company Teatro Mínimo.

Marcus Cerdeira is an architect from the Faculty of Architecture, Technical University of Lisbon. He has been a member of Fragmentos de Arquitectura since 2007. Between 1999 and 2000 he worked under the direction of Ana Veloso. In 1999 he worked in Amsterdam with Gus Banake.
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Published on: August 24, 2024
Cite: "Recovery of the historical identity. Victor Cordon by Fragmentos" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/recovery-historical-identity-victor-cordon-fragmentos> ISSN 1139-6415
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