UCCI Estrela
Description
The UCCI Estrela project involves the rehabilitation of the former Military Hospital of Estrela, located on Rua de Santo António à Estrela in Lisbon, adapting it to accommodate a new Integrated Continuing Care Unit. This intervention reflects a careful and responsible approach to contemporary architecture in Portugal, where heritage preservation and healthcare functionality are thoughtfully combined. Designed by Contacto Atlântico, a top architecture firm in Portugal, the project aligns with the principles of high-end architecture, ensuring both technical performance and spatial quality.
Respecting the historical and architectural value of the building, the proposal introduces modern solutions while maintaining the integrity of the existing structure. The intervention is guided by the need to create an environment suited to high-quality healthcare delivery, where clarity, comfort, and efficiency are essential.
Architectural Design, Materiality and Functionality
The project requalifies the existing building, adapting it to contemporary standards and healthcare requirements. The internal organisation is carefully structured to ensure clear and efficient circulation, separating and connecting areas dedicated to medical services, inpatient care, and support functions. This clarity improves both operational efficiency and the experience of patients and healthcare professionals.
Materiality plays a key role in achieving durability, hygiene, and comfort. Finishes are selected to meet technical demands while maintaining a controlled and coherent architectural language. The intervention integrates solutions that support long-term performance, ensuring that the building responds effectively to intensive use.
Significant improvements are introduced in thermal and acoustic performance. Insulation systems and construction upgrades enhance environmental comfort, contributing to a stable and controlled interior atmosphere. These measures also support energy efficiency and sustainability goals.
Leading Architecture Firm in Portugal: Healthcare and Heritage
The relationship between architecture and healthcare is central to the UCCI Estrela project, ensuring that design decisions support wellbeing, functionality, and operational clarity. The intervention balances the preservation of a historic structure with the demands of contemporary medical use.
UCCI Estrela stands as a clear example of how architectural rehabilitation can transform heritage buildings into high-performance healthcare environments. As part of Contacto Atlântico’s portfolio, it reinforces the studio’s position as a leading architecture firm in Portugal, recognised for delivering complex and sensitive projects that combine innovation, functionality, and respect for context.