The intervention area is located at the intersection of Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo to the west, and Rua Andrade Corvo to the south, occupying an area of approximately 1375 m2.
The complex is made up of two built units, the Palacete, or former residence of the developer, located in the giveto and a Residential Annex located at the east end, resulting from the expansion of the building’s old Garage. In the middle of these two units, there is a public place with access through both confining arteries, corresponding to the area of the house’s old garden.
The building complex, designed by Arq. Norte Júnior, in 1910, as José Maria Moreira Marques’ own home, constitutes a unique work of Art Nouveau in Portugal, whose relevance was recognized in 1914 through the award of the Valmor Prize.
The building was regularly inhabited between 1915 and 1945. In the 1950s the building was acquired by the Lisbon City Council and in that same decade the Metropolitano de Lisboa installed its headquarters there. Over the following decades, works were carried out to adapt the building due to the administrative and representation activities carried out in the property.
The Palace comprises a basement level and three levels above ground.
The cave level, located approximately 1.20 meters below ground level, contains a set of support facilities, highlighting the kitchen area, the safe area and the large space at the heart of the building, intended as a ring for skating and gym.
The first level above ground corresponds to the main floor of the Palace. The main entrance is via Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo. Highlighting the entrance antechamber, rooms and halls with stucco and worked wood and a sumptuous staircase leading to the upper level. The staircase is characterized by a first flight that promotes the ascent to half-floor height, then dividing into two other symmetrical flights, promoting at the ends of this area. Along the climb, delimited by balustrades and statuettes, it is possible to glimpse the evocative tempera paintings of Baía and Guanabara.
The second level, a replica of the entrance floor typology, integrating a set of compartments for bedrooms and support areas, around the main staircase. At this level, the light filtered by the large skylight above the staircase expands throughout the circulation areas.
The third level, whose access is processed exclusively by the vertical service core, is characterized by hidden areas of the roof, featuring a large observation room, facing Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo.
The architecture project program for intervention in the building results from a strict and exhaustive survey of the building and identification of the main interventions to be carried out in the building, essentially relating to the need for configuration and the impact of the integration of infrastructures, namely air conditioning and electrical installations; the renovation of the bathrooms and corrective and restoration disciplines to be carried out.

Architecture Paulo Tormenta Pinto
Collaboration Rosa Maria Bastos, Maria de Novais and Bernardo Vicente
Structures Miguel Villar/ BETAR, Lda
AVAC José Galvão Teles
Project/ Construction 2022 / –
Photography Maria de Novais and Bernardo Vicente