SB 44 Residential Building, located in the São Bento neighborhood, in Lisbon, Portugal, is the result of the renovation of a “Gaioleiro” city building from the end of the 19th century. Its construction is characterized by thick perimeter walls, in mortared stone, with wooden floors, Lioz stone window frames, ceramic tile roof and a facade covered in traditional tiles.
© Lourenço Teixeira de Abreu
The building consists of two volumes. At the front, the main residential volume, with 5 floors, and at the back, a two-story warehouse that served the commerce that existed on the ground floor.
© Lourenço Teixeira de Abreu
The intention of preserving the identity and chronology of the building dictated that the facades were maintained and preserved, innovating in the interior. Small apartments were created, meeting the demand at the time. Traditional materials were used, such as pine flooring, color patterned cement tiles, Lioz stone. Atriums and corridors stood out for their contrast, with a bolder design, favoring concrete, metal and integrated lighting.
© Lourenço Teixeira de Abreu
The connection between the two volumes is materialized with a wooden pergola, and a minimalist garden, with tree bark and a birch tree in the center.
Project Info
Architects: ÔCO
Country: Portugal, Lisboa
Area: 795 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Lourenço Teixeira de Abreu
Design Team: Pedro Arcângelo, Lia Delgado, Gabrielle Pimentel, Ricardo Roque Martins, Margarida Veloso
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.