Uma casa na Lapa || Rita Valadão – Arquitectura & Design de Interiores, Ida || Architect of the Year Awards 2020

Rita Valadão – Arquitectura & Design de Interiores, Ida: Winner of Architect of the Year Awards 2020. More than just a rehabilitation project, the apartment in Rua da Lapa was the perfect opportunity to reinstate this property’s noble beauty, previously hidden due to its advanced debilitated state.

With our initial approach of adding value to this unique space, the atelier sought to organise and adapt the apartment to its owners lifestyle and particular needs.

The starting point was to make the most use of its floor to ceiling features throughout the whole apartment. Without compromising the apartment’s intrinsic history nor a puristic revival approach, a permanent tribute was made to its orthogonal lines, creating tall consecutive frames that match the wall’s colour, accentuating its floor to ceiling features with doors made of a singular walnut plane.

The entrance hall takes us by surprise, with grey tones of fluid form that organise living, reading and dining areas, punctuated with pastel tones. A succession of windows occupy the totality of the main wall, with privileged views over Lisbon’s rooftops and river front.

The curvy furniture lines meander through the living room, slowly guiding our view to authors design furniture and unique pieces made specifically for this project by Michael Biberstein, Bela Silva, Bruno Castro Santos and Vik Muniz.

On the walls, the selected artworks embed rhythm towards the back wall, where a marble and walnut sideboard and a golden mirror almost fill the entirety of the frame. The mirror reflects the light of the imposing chandelier, standing above the round marble dining table. With its dotted small lights on a black open net, the chandelier pours light onto the marble table and its organic volume is the ex-libris of this space.

The private area of the apartment was projected with some constrains as one of the existing rooms had to give way to the walk-in closet and the junior suite had to be adapted to its new infra-structure.

A more intimate environment was created along the corridor that leads to the private area, lined by walnut doors. Through it we can access the office, social bathroom and guest room, as well as the master and junior suites.
The last room presented us with the greatest challenge, having to adapt a functional space for sleeping, working and storing to a sinuous plane. The creation of a small hall leading to the closet allows for a more homogenous spatial distribution, while it also hides the access to the suites’ bathroom. These changes helped to maintain the functional clarity and balance with the natural charm and sophistication of the apartment.

The design of the master suite was the perfect opportunity to further explore these concepts. With the mirrored glass finish of the tall wardrobe doors, the view of the room multiplies itself from the inside out, only interrupted by the headboard’s circular structure made of wood and straw.
The use of warmer materials is evident in the walk-in closet, giving this space a boudoir appearance. Completely coated in grey wood tones, it provides a delicate open structure for storage, with built-in lighting completed with a chandelier of organic lines, making this the most intimate and feminine room of the whole project.

Firm || Rita Valadão – Arquitectura & Design de Interiores, Ida
Project Name || Uma casa na Lapa
Architect || Rita Valadão
Architect of the Year Award Category || Residential Interior Concept

Project Location || Lisbon
Team || Rita Valadão 
Country || Portugal
Photography ©Credit || ©Ricardo Oliveira Alves – Photography & film studio

Over time Atelier Rita Valadão  has been achieving emblematic and larger projects. Designing well-structured spaces is the reflection of a distinct, contemporary and coherent architectural language.

We are a family owned and operated business.

The characteristic identity of a Rita Valadão interior is achieved through an interaction of different volumes, lighting and authentic materials: wood, stone, steel, glass.

We are a family owned and operated business.

Colors and textures are very important to us, as they will give personality, distinction and objectivity to the identity of Atelier Rita Valadão. We design each project as if it were our work of art.

An eclectic interior with furniture from international designers as well as pieces designed by the professionals of this atelier and executed by our national artisans are the main concern when we build a space. 

We develop projects with renowned artists, such as the recent collaboration with the artist and ceramist  Bela Silva , internationally recognized, represented by the gallery  Rui Freire – Fine Art.

We are a family owned and operated business.