Douradores 160
Description
The Douradores 160 project involves the renovation of an existing building on Rua dos Douradores, in Lisbon, with a gross area of 1,255.21 m². While visually aligned with the Pombaline context, the structure is in fact a nearly century-old concrete office building. The intervention reflects a precise approach to contemporary architecture in Portugal, where adaptation, performance, and urban integration are carefully addressed. Developed by Contacto Atlântico, a top architecture firm in Portugal, the project follows the principles of high-end architecture, balancing transformation with architectural clarity.
The proposal updates the building to support a new mixed-use programme, improving both its functional and technical performance while reinforcing its presence within the historic urban fabric.
Architectural Design, Materiality and Programmatic Transformation
The intervention focuses on the façade, particularly at ground and top floor levels, where targeted adjustments enhance the building’s identity and integration within the street. These changes are designed to respect the surrounding context while introducing a contemporary architectural language.
Materiality is approached with consistency and restraint, ensuring that new elements align with the existing structure while improving durability and performance. The refurbishment enhances the building envelope and supports the transition to its new uses.
At ground level, the building is reconfigured to accommodate two retail units of approximately 95 m² each, strengthening the relationship with the street and activating the urban frontage. The upper floors are converted into residential units, introducing 12 apartments across different typologies: one studio (T0), seven one-bedroom units (T1), and four two-bedroom units (T2). This programmatic diversity supports flexibility and responds to contemporary urban living demands.
Leading Architecture Firm in Portugal: Urban Regeneration and Living
The relationship between architecture and urban context is central to the Douradores 160 project, ensuring that the intervention contributes positively to the surrounding environment while improving usability and performance.
By transforming an office building into a mixed-use development, the project demonstrates how architectural rehabilitation can revitalise existing structures and adapt them to new urban needs. As part of Contacto Atlântico’s portfolio, it reinforces the studio’s position as a leading architecture firm in Portugal, recognised for delivering thoughtful and context-driven architectural solutions.