Palma Studios, situated in the Palma neighbourhood of Lisbon, Portugal, is a sustainable retrofit project transforming a late 19th-century farmhouse. This area is known for its village-scale charm and low density. The project preserves and restores the original building’s shell that was badly decaying, repurposing it into micro studios designed for student living.
© Lourenço T. Abreu
To optimise space, a new basement and loft level have been introduced. The layout features an interlocking three-dimensional puzzle of rooms with mezzanines accessed from double height corridors. The 19 en-suite units are supported by a communal kitchen, living space, roof terrace and laundry, as well as an external facing cafe that brings the student and local community together.
© Lourenço T. Abreu
The building seamlessly incorporates local façade shades of burnt yellow, bringing the outside environment indoors. This colour imparts a warm glow to spaces that would otherwise have somewhat limited daylight, due to maintaining the original window openings.
© João Guimarães
Lightweight perforated metal interventions are located throughout the building, allowing light to filter through and creating visual connections between spaces, whilst unifying the design and creating a sense of continuity. This lightness contrasts with the white-painted thick masonry walls and exposed concrete ceilings. The building’s exterior envelope has been restored and its original architecture was preserved to celebrate its local character within the area.
Project Info
Architects: Barbosa Mateus Arquitetos, andre kong studio
Country: Portugal, Lisboa
Area: 685 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: João Guimarães, Lourenço T. Abreu
Engineering: Strong Motion
Installations: CPX Consultadoria e Projetos
Contractor: Details Mind
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.