Prada Store
Description
The Prada Store occupies a landmark building on Avenida da Liberdade, originally designed by Norte Júnior, winner of the 1915 Valmor Prize. This intervention represents a precise exercise in contemporary architecture in Portugal, where heritage preservation and adaptation to luxury retail are carefully balanced. The strategy prioritises minimal impact on the existing structure, ensuring that the building’s identity remains intact while aligning it with the standards of high-end architecture.
No volumetric expansion was introduced, and the original reading of the façade openings is preserved. The stone façade is carefully cleaned using non-abrasive techniques, maintaining its integrity while enhancing its presence. The glazing is replaced with a solution compatible with the brand’s image, while the original balcony doors are retained and repainted in their existing colour. This measured approach reinforces continuity and respects the architectural value of the building.
Architectural Design, Materiality and Interior Adaptation
Internally, the project reorganises two previously connected units into a unified open space that integrates retail areas with technical zones, storage, and fitting rooms. Non-original partitions and the mezzanine are removed to restore spatial clarity. New plasterboard linings are introduced in a lightweight and reversible manner, reducing direct impact on the historic structure.
Materiality is carefully defined to align with both the brand identity and the architectural context. Floor finishes are updated with black marble and carpet in selected areas, creating a refined and coherent interior environment. Some openings to lightwells and the rear façade are closed internally to provide additional display surfaces, enhancing functionality without altering the external reading.
Accessibility is improved through the installation of a platform lift connecting the ground floor to the first basement. Staircases are regularised and clad, ensuring consistency and safety. The project also seals access to lower levels to reinstate structural continuity and simplify building operation.
Leading Architecture Firm in Portugal: Conservation and Precision
The intervention is defined by a clear and reversible technical approach, ensuring the preservation of heritage while allowing flexibility for retail display. Circulation routes and maintenance systems are simplified, improving efficiency and usability. The overall gross floor area is reduced compared to the previous condition, without altering the building’s height or footprint.
The relationship between architecture and heritage is central to the project, guiding each design decision with precision and restraint. The result is a retail space that respects the historical character of the building while delivering a contemporary and accessible environment.
As part of Contacto Atlântico’s portfolio, the Prada Store reinforces the studio’s position as a leading architecture firm in Portugal, recognised for delivering refined interventions that balance conservation, innovation, and design excellence.