Passeio de Alma Portuguesa, Project of a Monument in Lisbon

Politecnico di Milano, Polytechnic University of Milan, School of Design

Project idea

Four main elements of the Portuguese culture finds their shape through a specific architectural space. They are the ascension, the light, the fado and the sauda-de, which are translated respectively into a monumental staircase, a covered open square, a music bar and a contemplation hall. The purpose of the thesis is to design an architecture that could be integral part of the city, respecting its materiality, its forms and the cultural statues of Lisbon.

Project description

This project thesis aims to synthesize the traits of the Portuguese soul through the design of a public architecture, which simultaneously wants to be a new centre of attraction for Lisbon. For that reason the Passeio de Alma Portuguesa (translated as the Path of the Portuguese Soul), located on the slopes of the castle hill, wants to celebrate and reinterpret what are the main characteristics of the Portuguese city and culture and how they can be players in the design of new spaces that could represent them. All the main elements from the cultural tradition, such as poetry, music and the atmosphere of the city itself, are joined together in order to represent a monument to the deep spirit of Lisbon, taking the shape of an architectural object, able to welcome the community to benefits from it.
The formal configuration of the project rises from the natural conformation of the area, taking as reference the existing system of terraces, that characterizes all the surrounding, as a tool to face the huge difference of level of the area. Climbing from the Costa do Castelo street, the volumes of the project grow progressively, hosting open and covered public spaces and facilities, reaching the Praça de Armas, where a new access to the archaeological area of the castle is set.

Technical information

Due to the highly visible position and to the important and essential background, it was decided to have a façade which would not call for attention. We thought about using the colour of stone that was also used by Aires Mateus in the Sines Centre for Art. The elevation appears as a clean and articulated volume that keeps going back in terraces.