São Filipe Hotel
Description
Located on a hill near the slopes of the Serra de São Luís, in the municipality of Setúbal, the São Filipe Hotel occupies a former military fort classified as a National Monument. This project represents a careful intervention in contemporary architecture in Portugal, where heritage preservation and new hospitality functions are thoughtfully integrated. Designed by Contacto Atlântico, a top architecture firm in Portugal, the proposal reflects the principles of high-end architecture, balancing historical integrity with modern performance.
The intervention preserves the essential structure of the existing building while introducing a new extension, allowing the property to adapt to the operational and spatial requirements of a contemporary hotel. This approach ensures continuity with the past while enabling a renewed and functional use.
Architectural Design, Materiality and Heritage Integration
The project is guided by a strategy of minimal and precise transformation. Interior spaces are moderately refurbished to improve usability and adapt to hospitality standards, while maintaining the architectural character of the fort. The intervention respects the existing morphology and reinforces the reading of the historic structure.
Materiality is approached with restraint, ensuring compatibility between new and existing elements. The architectural language remains coherent, allowing the original identity of the monument to remain present while accommodating new functions.
A key addition to the project is the swimming pool, positioned at the level of the southern bastion terrace and designed in continuity with the esplanade. This element enhances the usability of the exterior spaces while maintaining a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Leading Architecture Firm in Portugal: Heritage and Hospitality Experience
The relationship between architecture and heritage is central to the São Filipe Hotel project, ensuring that the intervention respects the historical value of the site while improving accessibility, comfort, and operational efficiency.
The project demonstrates how architectural rehabilitation can transform historic structures into contemporary hospitality environments without compromising their identity. As part of Contacto Atlântico’s portfolio, it reinforces the studio’s position as a leading architecture firm in Portugal, recognised for delivering sensitive and context-driven design solutions.