António Costa Lima Arquitectos completes
António Costa Lima Arquitectos has completed a three-home block in Lisbon, concealed behind a retained warehouse facade.
Portuguese studio António Costa Lima Arquitectos has finished work on a block of three homes in Lisbon. The project, named Praia do Bom Sucesso, features an industrial-style structure built from exposed brickwork and weathered steel.
The new building is located near the Tagus river's northern bank. It was constructed behind the preserved front wall of an old warehouse, in a district historically filled with industrial buildings.
Design Concept and Historical Echo
Inspired by this industrial past, the architects aimed to evoke a warehouse aesthetic. A brick and steel form is hidden by the old northern facade but opens to the south with balconies and full-height windows.
Founder António Costa Lima explained the approach to Dezeen. "The building is gradually 'decomposed' by the subtraction of its volume, creating a difference between both sides of the building," he said. He described a hard, opaque plane to the north and a light, transparent composition revealing a metallic skeleton to the south.
Spatial Layout and Courtyards
Due to the site's depth, the studio split the block into two long, gabled sections. These sit on either side of a row of three courtyards. Glazing and perforated brickwork surround these courtyards, pulling daylight into each home.
Costa Lima noted the central concept. "Two volumes merge and partially separate in the centre of the lot, from which three courtyards are born, each one serving one of the three houses," he stated. The fragmentation allowed for complementary natural lighting.
On the ground floor, the bases of these courtyards create private patios and entrance areas. These face a row of garages and lead into each home's lower level. Two en-suite bedrooms are located on the more enclosed northern sides of the houses.
Interior Experience and Materials
Weathered steel staircases connect to the first floors. Here, corridors lined with perforated brick walls link the living, dining, and kitchen areas. These spaces are divided across either side of a glazed light well.
Northern spaces are more intimate and darker, lit by small openings in the historic facade. Southern areas, containing dining and living rooms, feature large glazed sections. They open onto terraces sheltered by metal louvres.
The interior deliberately leaves the brickwork and brown steel structure exposed. Timber floors and white walls complement this raw aesthetic. In some areas, the walls stop short of the ceilings to allow light from clerestory windows to filter through.
The photography for the project was provided by João Guimarães.
