Welcome to Marvila

Marvila was home to numerous factories and warehouses that produced a variety of goods, like phosphor, wine barrels, and nutrition for the Portuguese armed forces which have been stationed nearby. The neighbourhood is strategically located near the Tagus River, which made it easy to transport goods to other parts of the country and abroad. The industrialization of Marvila led to an influx of workers, and the neighbourhood became a bustling community with a unique character.

However, the decline of Portugal’s industrial sector in the mid-20th century had a significant impact on Marvila. Many factories and warehouses were forced to close, and the neighbourhood fell into a state of disrepair. The area became a forgotten corner of Lisbon.

In recent years, Marvila has undergone a significant transformation, and it has become home to cultural spaces in the city. The neighbourhood has been revitalized, and many of the old factories and warehouses have been repurposed into galleries, studios, and event spaces. The industrial heritage of Marvila has been preserved, and it has been given a new lease of life. The infrastructure has been transformed into modern commercial spaces and condominiums. Many warehouses host a range of cultural events throughout the year, including art exhibitions, music festivals, and food markets.

Marvila is also home to several street art murals that compliment the neighbourhood’s unique character. You can find worldwide recognized street art pieces eg. from Vihls, Pichiavo, and Bordalo II just nearby.

The project aimed to transform an attic apartment without any living conditions into a bright and open space with a breathtaking view of the Tagus River, creating an idea of a “lighthouse”, a shelter at the top of the building, which opens for the distant views of the surrounding built environment, framed by the sky and the sea, disconnected from the disturbance of the city life.

Due to the very poor condition of the previous structure of the apartment, it became necessary to replace the entire roof and remake all of its interiors. Through a deep intervention into the space of the apartment and the geometry of the stairs, it became possible to introduce a functional bathroom and a more comfortable entrance. 

The main objective of this project was to create a space as open and bright as possible. To achieve this goal, the architects decided to contain the private areas – bedroom, and bathroom – in a separate volume, disconnected from the roof, leaving the remaining open space as a living room. Both storage and kitchenette were contained in another volume created along the living room, an element integrated into the gable wall. This way the apartment fresh up as much space as possible and introduces additional thermal insulation to the space. By subtracting from this volume, the architects created two niches: one that serves as the kitchenette countertop area and the other that serves as a sofa from which one is able to admire all the beauty of the carefully studied geometry of the interior.

The project was finished 2022.