
Seamless design, ECLISSE steps outdoors
ECLISSE introduces Syntesis Areo Outdoor, extending the sleekness of its flush-to-wall system to exterior applications. Robust and adaptable, it reimagines technical access points as integrated design features, ensuring a continuous aesthetic flow between interior and exterior spaces.
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António Costa Lima’s project for a residential unit in the heart of Lisbon is more than the redesign of an existing building. Rather, it operates on a portion of the Portuguese capital’s ancient urban fabric, one which is so dense and intertwined to make it impossible to pinpoint its single unities. The block’s construction started in the 17th century, on a steeply sloping lot, to progress over the years through alterations, destructions (though the 1755 earthquake spared it in large measure), and additions.
Costa Lima seeks to carry on this evolution path in the name of continuity. What is left of the original finishes is carefully restored: not just the unfailing azulejos, but also most window and door frames and a few wooden ceilings. The spatial and technical updates are limited to the bare minimum, to adapt the complex to its new residential function – a seven bedrooms main house and a three bedrooms annex.



Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, ground floor plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, first floor plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, second floor plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, roof plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, north elevation

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, south elevation

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, west elevation

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018. Photo © Francisco Nogueira

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, ground floor plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, first floor plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, second floor plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, roof plan

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, north elevation

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, south elevation

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, west elevation

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section

Lisbon. A contemporary home inside an ancient block
António Costa Lima, private house, section
The two courtyard gardens host the few newly-built structures, and most notably the elevated terrace altering the previous layout of the southern court. It functions as a filter space between inside and outside, which directly overlooks the open-air pool, surrounded by elegant wooden and marble decks. A white painted metal frame builds a large trellis. This boldly contemporary insertion is conceived as a reversible structure, ready to be removed when future dwellers will redesign these spaces, according to needs and uses which are to this day unforeseeable.

- Project:
- private house
- Location:
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Architect:
- António Costa Lima
- Design team:
- André Ribeiro, João Almeida, André Cunha
- Area:
- 1,000 sqm
- Completion:
- 2018

Stone: Origins and Future in Architecture
On June 12 and 13, 2025, IUAV University of Venice will host "Stone is…," an international forum entirely dedicated to natural stone. Organized by PNA, this event aims to thoroughly explore the material's enduring value and sustainability, featuring insights from internationally renowned speakers.
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