Manchester Building, This 20th-century building is located in the Lisbon neighbourhood of Anjos. Manchester Building had been in a state of imminent ruin, although 3 of its 10 apartments were inhabited. The rehabilitation operation was structural and transversal – with the necessary reinforcements from a structural point of view, all kinds of new infrastructures, and systems to improve the energy performance and comfort of the apartments.
© Francisco Nogueira
The main façade and the stairwell were restored, with a redesign of the entrance hall, the circulation areas in the basement floor and the patio, and the roof was reconstructed. An elevator was installed towards the rear of the building, the metallic structure of the balconies was extended leading to an increase of the private outdoor area, a new entrance to the apartments, and access to the patio. All the apartments underwent the same spatial alterations, despite having been personalised according to the wishes of each of their new owners.
© Francisco Nogueira
Although this is clearly and unmistakably a rehabilitation, the dimensions of the restoration, but also the idea of reconstitution – of certain constructive and decorative elements, and of a particular type of architecture – are recognisable, in an intermingling of the new and old that is not always distinguishable.
Project Info
Architects: rar.studio
Country: Lisbon, Portugal
Area: 1100 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Francisco Nogueira
Lead Architect:Â Rita Aguiar Rodrigues
Project Leader: Inês Chambel Borges, Mariana Simões
Collaborators: Francisco Costa, Marta Morais Miranda, Samuele D’Eramo, Tali Liberman
Engineering: CPX – Consultoria e Projectos
Contractor: RVI – Recuperação e Valorização de Imóveis, Lda.
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.