The rehabilitation of the Quarteirão do Rossio, located between Praça D. Pedro IV, Praça da Figueira, Rua do Amparo, and Rua da Betesga, represents a sensitive and ambitious urban intervention in the heart of historic Lisbon. Set within a classified public interest area in the Baixa Pombalina, the project was guided by a strong respect for heritage, while addressing contemporary functional demands.
The key concept driving the project was the preservation of the Pombaline urban layout and architectural identity, while adapting the structure to a new commercial use. One of the guiding inspirations was the idea of returning the block to the city – not only through restoration, but through intelligent reactivation. This included reuniting previously divided commercial fractions, improving interior continuity and circulation, and creating a retail destination that opens generously to the public realm.
Early challenges included adapting the building’s rigid structural geometry to accommodate the spatial and technical requirements of modern retail operations. Additionally, coordinating with heritage authorities to preserve key decorative and structural elements required extensive negotiation and technical precision.
Among the most notable construction challenges was integrating new vertical circulation systems (elevators and escalators) into a dense Pombaline structure. These were carefully inserted into existing courtyards (saguões) to minimise structural impact. Elements of gypsum drywall partitioning, reversible by design, were used to redefine internal spaces while safeguarding murals, original stucco ceilings, Pombaline tiles, and the tile panel by António Lino.
Materials were chosen based on their compatibility with heritage elements, with special care given to restoring original painted ceilings, tile panels, wrought iron details, and decorative plasterwork. In areas where conservation was not possible, new materials were used in a discreet, contemporary language that honours the building’s past.
Spatially, the project reconfigures the interior across five above-ground levels and two basement levels, with a total gross floor area of over 10,100 m². The ground floor reopens directly to the surrounding plazas, encouraging permeability, accessibility, and urban life. The upper floors are tailored to accommodate retail operations, staff support areas, meeting rooms, and storage.
Ultimately, the Quarteirão do Rossio represents a model of urban regeneration rooted in heritage. It brings new life to a historical landmark, enhances commercial vitality in Lisbon’s city centre, and affirms architecture’s role in bridging time, use, and identity.