We are quite accustomed to the typological variety of Portuguese studio António Costa Lima Arquitectos, founded in 2012 (previously L Arquitectos): from the house on the beach with thatched roofs to the apartment with massive exposed beams, up to the bohemian renovation of a restaurant in Lisbon. Their latest project is a villa that raises from the carcass of an old warehouse, with panoramic views over the river.

Casa Altinho is located in the homonymous area in Lisbon, on the old Junqueira street, a ten minutes walk from the MAAT museum and a stone’s throw from the Tagus River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. The architects have introduced so many formal elements that it is difficult to isolate just one. Surely the strong relationship between old and new emerges through the volume, where the new construction is literally extruded from the old walls of the original warehouse. This is followed by attention to texture and material, with the limestone finish of the original volume in sharp contrast to the bricks used for the extension, which dematerialize into a latticework perimeter that acts as a sunshade. To all this are added the perspective rebounds between the various floors, with views on the surrounding landscape, the play of fulls and voids with triple heights, patios and even a rope-net where to dangle.

The functional program is flawless, with the entrance from the garage on the ground floor. Here there is an apartment (probably intended for rent due to its strategic position on the road) and the stairwell that leads to the main floor where the actual promenade begins. The kitchen, an open space dining room and living room occupy the first floor, while the four bedrooms with two bathrooms are located on the second floor. Each floor is punctuated with terraces in continuity with the interiors; the path ends with the last flight of stairs leading to a small patio on the roof. The finishes are reminiscent of the exterior ones with the use of light limestone, dark woods and camouflaged brown steel beams. Overall, the project harmonizes with the urban context in terms of form and volume, where free interpretation is attributed to colours and materials, respecting the formal heritage of the place.