Palácio Nacional da Ajuda

The intervention at the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda focuses on the rehabilitation of the East and North Wing, representing a precise and respectful approach to contemporary architecture in Portugal applied to heritage contexts. The project concentrates on the three Treasury Rooms facing the main façade, as well as the reserve areas, with the aim of safeguarding architectural and historical value while preparing the spaces for visits, exhibitions, and events. This balance between preservation and adaptation reflects the principles of high-end architecture, where technical precision and cultural responsibility are carefully aligned.

The strategy prioritises clarity and discretion. Original elements such as stonework, shutters, and windows are preserved, ensuring continuity in the building’s historical reading. Where intervention is required, openings are reinstated using solutions compatible with the original construction, maintaining coherence and authenticity throughout the spaces.

Architectural Design, Materiality and Restoration

Within the Treasury Rooms, the project combines restoration with technical updating. Structurally weakened areas are reinforced, and decorative surfaces are carefully treated to ensure long-term preservation. In the room featuring nineteenth-century cabinets, dedicated internal lighting and protection systems are introduced, enhancing both the visitor experience and the safeguarding of the collection.

Materiality is approached with precision and respect for the existing fabric. End-of-life flooring is replaced with pine boards, maintaining the original pattern while integrating technical layers for services, waterproofing, and acoustic comfort. This solution ensures improved performance without compromising the architectural identity of the spaces.

The lighting design is carefully orchestrated, combining perimeter lighting, suspended fixtures, and focused accents within niches and cabinets. This layered approach enhances spatial perception and highlights key elements, reinforcing the quality of the exhibition environment.

In the north tower, windows, doors, and stonework are repaired, and a new connecting door is introduced with proportions aligned to the existing architecture. The intervention remains strictly within necessary limits, with no increase in volume, ensuring a controlled and respectful architectural outcome.

Leading Architecture Firm in Portugal: Heritage and Continuity

The project also includes the organisation of small support spaces, developed through non-invasive solutions that preserve the integrity of the building. Every intervention is guided by the relationship between architecture and heritage, ensuring that the historical character of the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda is maintained.

This rehabilitation demonstrates how careful architectural design can enhance heritage buildings while supporting contemporary use. As part of Contacto Atlântico’s portfolio, it reinforces the studio’s position as a leading architecture firm in Portugal, recognised for delivering interventions that combine restoration, technical rigour, and cultural sensitivity.