Antiga Casa Pessoa
Lisbon, Portugal
The rooms are all different, like Fernando Pessoa's heteronyms.
In the heart of Lisbon, in one of the most beautiful areas of the city, there are 13 very charming boutique apartments that can be rented for a short or medium term.
I visited the building guided by Maria Eugénia and Pedro - the owners. They told me that during the rehabilitation works they were surprised by the existence of frescoes on the walls. They had no doubts about keeping them and they are what make the experience of staying at Antiga Casa Pessoa even more authentic. The spaces are unique, exclusive, with an identity full of history. We can feel the memory of the past and it's fun to imagine who may have lived there before.
It is no coincidence that guests make their reservations based on the paintings or colors of the walls. I visited some apartments, and my favorite is the green one! In addition to being enchanted by the fresco paintings, this room overlooks a square full of lime trees with an irresistible scent that matches the colors of the interior.
The apartments are fully equipped and their location is privileged: Close to Lisbon's most desired tourist attractions such as the Santa Justa Elevator, Rua Augusta, Restauradores and Praça do Comércio.
This building is, basically, a proposal to update the habitability of a building designed in the 18th century, post-earthquake, built in the 19th century, and recovered in the 21st century.
The rehabilitation project lasted 7 years and it was highlighted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation with an Honorable Mention in the Gulbenkian Heritage Prize, and was also a finalist for the 2021 FAD Awards in Barcelona.
IMAGES © FERNANDO GUERRA
Architecture by José Adrião Arquitetos