Marvila House: A New Modern Extension for an Old Charming Townhome in Lisbon

In an old, industrial area of Lisbon, Portugal, architect José Andrade Rocha (of Atelier José Andrade Rocha) has reimagined a modest townhouse, transforming it into a minimalist home that is as considered as it is unpretentious.


From the street, the home blends in with its neighbors: Other than a paint refresh, the facade remains largely untouched. From the back, though, Rocha’s interventions are clear thanks to a new modernist rear extension featuring a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and a sliding glass door that leads to a courtyard. Designed during the COVID-19 pandemic and finished last year, the home “reflects a desire to enhance gatherings,” he writes.


Let’s take a tour, shall we?


Photography by Francisco Ascensão, courtesy of Atelier José Andrade Rocha.
Above: On the street-facing side, there are few hints of the interventions that were undertaken inside.
Above: A large great room spans the first floor, which looks out onto the pebbled courtyard. The kitchen runs the length of one side. (See Trend Alert: Sideboard as Kitchen.)
Above: “Inside the building, a universe of conventional materials is repeated and modified: structural wooden panels protected with green paint, slightly blue industrial flooring, painted steel sheet, wooden frames, Sintra limestone, and river pebbles.” The Parentesi Suspension Lamp by Flos offers additional lighting in the kitchen area.
Above: Of priority to Rocha—emphasizing the connection to the outdoors.
Above: The view from the courtyard to the inside. The orange Mariolina Chairs, designed by Enzo Mari for Magis, add an energetic contrast to the more muted blues and greens in the home.
Above: Our favorite part of the room might just be this elegant swirl of a green staircase. The well-designed Oberon 5 Speaker next to it is by DALI.
Above: The spiral staircase leads to the bedroom.
Above: A row of closets separates the bedroom from the ensuite bath. A large awning window looks out onto the courtyard below.
Above: Simple porcelain light sockets make for chic lighting throughout the home. For similar versions, try Schoolhouse’s Alabax Small Surface Mount or Commune’s Light Sockets. (Across the Atlantic, consider Zangra’s great selection of sockets.
Above: The new back facade.


See also:



* Kitchen(s) of the Week: Green Kitchens Make a Fresh Comeback

* Kitchen of the Week: A Serene Space in Pale Blue at Casa C’Alma in Portugal

* Books Are Good Company: A Design-Minded Bookshop in Lisbon


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