Born of serendipity

Photography by Francisco Nogueira

Studio Gameiro recently renovated an apartment in one of lLsbon’s most coveted and beautiful neighbourhoods, Príncipe Real.

After undergoing a classic-driven intervention, this apartment is the synonym of the balance between the artistry of a bygone era, preserving the exquisite craftsmanship of the late 19th century, and the incredible energy with doing something new and original. Therefore, during the renovation works, the paramount objective was to carefully curate a house which should immediately feel like a home, restoring its original features while seamlessly infusing the essence of the particularly exotic and textured neighbourhood of Príncipe Real into the property. The geography of the area, never quite modular, infuses the interior with a warmth and depth that turns every room completely original with its own identity and character, as it does with the magical garden.

The living area is a very long room, it occupies the entire width of the building and includes the living and the dining zone. In the living room, the key piece is the bespoke fireplace, its design was inspired by the natural and organic shapes found outdoors, in the beautiful garden. The relationship with the exterior was always key throughout the interior design, and so it felt natural and useful to bring inside those organic shapes to create a base that is made of white and red travertine. The hut is designed for the hot air to flow and is made of lacquered metal. The intention was to create a shape that came out of the wall, and which resembles the various ornamental details found throughout the house, where the different shapes protrude the wall and ceiling surfaces: something under, something over - what some call cross-references. The designers decorated the room with attractively designed furniture such as the white armless sofa by Afra, the armchair made directly by Studio Gameiro, HAMREI's side table with Murano crystal and the iconic black chair of Vitra designed by Charles & Ray Eames. The dining area has an intentionally different design where the designers played with fabrics and patterns. Here the highlight is the surrealist tapestry by the Portuguese artist, Cruzeiro Seixas.

The idea was to create a setting that not only mirrored our client’s character and way of living - sophisticated, cosmopolitan, bold - but that would also portray her home country of Brazil.

From the early design stages, the client had expressed the desire for the kitchen to be a prime space. It should provide obvious functionality and comfort, and it needed to be aesthetically pleasing as a daily usage space. As such, the main goal was to provide these qualities and characteristics devising a framework that should not only be perceived as a space for cooking but also as an enjoyable environment where people could socialise. The materials have different degrees of presence. Some necessary functional elements such as upper cabinets, tall cabinets, and other appliances are painted in neutral tones, close to the colour of the walls. These are meant to blend in, as is the case with the ceiling, leaving space for other natural materials to stand-out. Instead, a clear distinction in the level of detail and texture the designers sought to develop throughout can be found in the kitchen’s countertops and low cabinets. The lower cabinets, designed with a simple and continuous grid of drawers, finished in oak with a brushed varnish, act in unison with the stone countertop. The chosen stone for the countertop and backsplash is granite, an original cut from Canada. The natural patterns of the stone bring a strong dynamic and complexity to the space, acting as a conceptual footprint with the wave-shaped cuts found in the backsplash. The entire living area (including the kitchen) overlooks the lush garden with pool. Many elements introduced into the interior take their inspiration from the outside, such as the custom-made natural stone steps, which have a clear relationship with the base of the fireplace, in its organic shape and material, and in its modular perception. The pool was custom-made with the highest level of detail and endeavor. Every tile was designed, and 3D modeled individually to accommodate the different features of the pool, including the infinity framework. The colour of the tiles is the result of careful experimentation of hues of cobalt blue and blue Klein. The use of this colour, combined with the beautiful roughness of the handmade tiles, where each one is different, has resulted in a pool that is immediately capable of conveying a tranquil ambience.

The sleeping area is located on the other side of the house and has a decidedly more intimate character thanks to the use of warm wood on the floor. In addition to the bedrooms, there is an informal office and TV room. In this last room, unlike the living room, the designers included only a couple of sofas and the same coffee table by HAMREI but with the brass structure this time.

It proved to be a challenge that left any nostalgic attachment behind, by finding inspiration in the heritage and craft, but reworking it with a twist by pushing it forward, test and trial.

During the creation of the entire project, the designers worked closely with a group of extraordinary local artisans - this is especially noticeable in the master bedroom where a hand-carved wooden bed frame was custom designed. In front of the bed the designers opted for a couple of designer pieces such as Philippe Starck's console and the chair by Petit H from Hermès which takes up the style of Vanessa Barragão's tapestry hanging next to it.

In the master ensuite bathroom the craftsmen created a custom-made marble basin and vanity with marble countertop. The black taps match perfectly with the frames of the window and the shower, giving a touch of refinement.