Architecture studio

For their new studio Alina Jerónimo & Paulo Carneiro renovated an old building in Lisbon, translating their philosophical and sustainable beliefs into an architecture full of rich textures.

With a strong commitment in eco-technologies and biobased materials, Portuguese architects Alina Jerónimo and Paulo Carneiro renovated a 150 years old house in a historic area of Lisbon, featuring their new, sustainable, architectural studio.

The building rises in an area that has been known for centuries as a fishing district, and has suffered several interventions in the ground floor that debilitated its structure. The concept was to renovate a 35 square meters space, integrating both architectural and craftsmanship work, recreating a “sustainable model” to replicate in other old buildings in the city. The interior walls were removed, placing a metal structure and footings to allow the creation of an open space, while reinforcing and correcting the damaged building in the ground floor.

The idea was to achieve a positive environment and social impact through the promotion of disappearing crafts such as traditional carpentry and using biobased materials: wood, earth, straw and lime. The result is a pattern of textures from different materials that have a physical impact on the space: they are flexible, porous and breathable. The process allowed for experimental research, from the design, to the placement and welding of the metal structure, walls and plastering, and furniture making.