A Whimsical Reuse explores refined architectural transformations where history is reinterpreted through poetic interventions and contemporary craft. Forgotten spaces gain new life, revealing a dialogue between memory, material, and contemporary ways of living.
In Lisbon, Atelier Réalité has transformed a former street-level office into a flexible, light-filled interior capable of continually adapting to new uses. Currently operating as an urban retreat for yoga, meditation, and cooking, the project was conceived with the possibility of a future conversion into an apartment. Organized around a central service volume that consolidates storage and wet areas, the design opens the main space toward the street while preserving a sense of privacy within. Natural materials, neutral tones, and movable partitions shape a calm, ever-evolving environment.
Located in Lisbon’s Pedrouços neighborhood, this project transforms a former office into an Urban Retreat, a calm and adaptable interior designed to host yoga, meditation, alternative therapies, and culinary activities.
Conceived as a small urban sanctuary, the intervention reconfigures the existing layout to support a variety of uses while maintaining a serene and welcoming atmosphere.
The space is defined by a single street-facing façade overlooking the tree-lined Rua de Pedrouços. The design strategy emphasizes the entry of natural light and the visual relationship with the exterior, placing the main activity room along the façade. This open and luminous area accommodates yoga, meditation, and wellness practices, benefiting from direct daylight and views toward the street. Toward the interior of the plan, a more private and functional kitchen supports cooking classes and showcooking sessions.
Between these two areas, a compact central volume organizes the service spaces, including storage, a shower, and a restroom. This element acts as a cohesive architectural block that structures the interior layout while concealing existing structural elements. By consolidating the service functions, the design frees the surrounding space, allowing the main areas to remain open, flexible, and visually continuous.
Adaptability plays a central role in the project.
Glass partitions and soft linen curtains allow the atmosphere to be adjusted according to different activities, creating varying degrees of openness, privacy, and spatial fluidity. This flexibility also anticipates the potential future conversion of the space into a residential apartment, guiding the organization of the layout from the outset.
Material choices reinforce the calm character of the retreat.
Oak wood, tiger-skin marble, linen textiles, and mineral paints in neutral tones establish a tactile and sensorial environment. Carefully selected lighting and furniture complement these materials, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere and supporting the diverse activities taking place within the space.
Facts & Credits
Project title: Urban Retreat
Architecture Office: Atelier Réalité
Main Architects: Mariana Póvoa, Pedro Pedroso, Sílvia Rocio
Project location: Lisboa, Portugal
Date of completion: 2022
Total area: 80m2
Engineer consultants: Nuno Pitta Soares (Águas e Esgotos), Agostinho Silva (Electricidade, ITED)
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio
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