JOANA VILHENA 

Apartamento / Apartment DOM JARDO . Lisboa . 2023 (©JV)

This project includes an apartment, an integral part of an existing building, built in 1949, whose architectural characteristics are known as buildings with a mixed concrete and wood structure. The DOM JARDO project [78.00m2] does not change the typology of the existing fraction, carrying out a slight remodeling, without changing the original physical characteristics. The new kitchen maintains its spatial structure and takes advantage of the stone architectural elements and original fixed furniture, such as the chimney and sink in Lioz, revealing the characteristics of the building. A longitudinal corridor crosses and distributes the light that enters from South to North to all rooms, looking at the Tagus River.

Apartamento / Apartment ARROIOS 4 . Lisboa . 2023 (©JV)

This project features an apartment, an integral part of an existing building, prior to 1950, probably built in the 2nd quarter of the 20th century, whose architectural characteristics are known as buildings with a mixed concrete and mansory structure. The project ARROIOS 4 [75.00m2] intends to change the existing fraction, carrying out a light remodeling, without changing the physical characteristics of the building and the apartment or expandig its construction area. The space that was once the bathroom opens onto the living room and kitchen. The new kitchen opens onto the living room, now larger, crossed by the light the est from west.

Apartamento / Apartment SB.137 . Lisboa . 2023 (©JV)

This project features an apartment, an integral part of an existing building, prior to 1950, probably built in the 1st quarter of the 20th century, whose architectural characteristics are known as "Gaioleiros" buildings: designation of the constructive typology that follows the Pombaline period until the introduction of reinforced concrete in the 1930s. The project SB.137 [90.00m2] intends to change the existing fraction, carrying out a light remodeling, not changing the typology, but changing the physical characteristics by opening the spaces in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the apartment has west and east light always present in the interior spaces.

Apartamento / Apartment IS.356 . Lisboa . 2022  (©MC)

In the 1950s, Avenida Infante Santo was opened, with a morphology formed by a valley towards Tejo, where the Cova da Moura headquarters once existed. The building where the IS.356 [89.00m2] apartment is located, with 4 floors, represents the upper start of the Avenue, where the façade design is the same in a reading of the street section, on both sides. The typology remains, but the modifications introduced a greater transverse opening, allowing the reading and experience of the spaces in succession. The original character of the apartment is maintained through the preservation of the carpentry.

Boavista #Ribeira 11 . Lisboa . 2017-2019 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©JV)

In the middle of the 1850s streets were opened perpendicular to the river and the Ramp of Santos was constructed, in the riverside zone of Lisbon, characterized by buildings of industrial use. The Ribeira 11 building exists in one of these canal spaces in the Boqueirão dos Ferreiros. Its original function influenced the choice of materials related to the industrial sector; in the zone to be preserved, we chose to recover the existing concrete porticoes while on the expanded floors we opted for the design of a new steel structure [4.640.00m2]. A large terrace rises at the top of the building and creates an exclusive space of tranquility for the neighbors, on the top floor.  Nominated for EUmies award 2022.                                                                                                                                                              https://ribeira11.pt/ 

Apartamento / Apartment AV . Lisboa . 2019  (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©Catarina Botelho)

 With the expansion of the urban fabric towards the north, and the housing shortage that was felt in the city of Lisbon between the 1950s and 1970s, single-family houses started being replaced by multifamily houses. The AV apartment [240.00m2] is located at Torres do Restelo, block towers inspired by Le Corbusier models. This proposal introduces a new informality in the living spaces. The typology remains but the modifications introduced a total north south opening.Through the longitudinal opening, there is a succession of spaces with an external view of 180º: south, west and north.

Apartamento / Apartment JQ . Lisboa . 2012 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©RCJV)

 The project intends to rehabilitate an apartment in Bairro Alto. The proposal reconciles the existing structure and redesigns new spaces, defining the nature of the private and common areas. The interior design takes advantage of the natural lighting present in all spaces. Finishes seek consistency with structural options. The project is part of the Urbanization Plan Bairro Alto and Bica.  

Apartamento / Apartment JA . Lisboa . 2012 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©RCJV)

 What was once farmland was turned into a residential neighborhood in 1879, designed with a grid of streets. Today, it's a mix of late 19th-century buildings and less attractive architecture from the 20th century. It's known as a pleasant neighborhood to live in, holding on to traditional shopping. The apartment object of this proposal exists in a building built in the passage from the first to the second quarter of the 20th century with concrete and wood structure. 

Escola Lima de Freitas / Modernization of Lima de Freitas School. Setúbal . 2012  (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©Nuno Gaspar)

The modernization project of the Lima de Freitas school, in the city of Setúbal, was based on a strategy of valorization of the whole. This was composed by pavilions of the model denominated 3x3. The project resulted in a profound transformation of the relationship between the new buildings and the pavilions. The valorization of the school space thus goes through hierarchizing and regrouping the program and redefining the design of connections and outer space. At the entrance, which was relocated, are the direct access to public use spaces. The common spaces for student use are distributed along the main learning street path. Nominated for EUmies award 2015.                                                                                                                                                         https://www.parque-escolar.pt/pt/escola/189

MUDE Museu do Design e da Moda / Museum of Design and Fashion . Lisboa . 2009 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©FG+SG)

The project for the Design and Fashion Museum provisional premises provides an intervention in the old BNU building, situated at the heart of Lisbon's historic city centre. This is the only building in Baixa Pombalina where one can have a full perception of the configuration of the whole building block from the inside, with a stone counter capable of defining the design of the entire space. Departing from this unique characteristic the proposal was made without building any walls. The intervention in MUDE is made with Light, Scaffolding canvas, Pallets and Reflective paint. From the interior one looks out to the museum through a single glass sheet as well as to the surrounding streets.

Escola Sebastião da Gama / Modernization of Sebastião da Gama School . Setúbal . 2009 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©FG+SG)

 The Modernisation Project for the Sebastião da Gama School is based on improving the school and its relationship with the city of Setúbal. The project orders, rearranges and locates not only the programme and circulations but also the design of the outside area. The starting point for the project is the setting of an exterior central space, creating a paving plan that is perceptible as the centre of the school. The structural presence of Learning Street was interpreted as a way of intercepting all areas of the school, reacting to the succession of interior and exterior.                                                         https://www.parque-escolar.pt/pt/escola/092

Escritório / Office MV . Lisboa . 2007 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©RCJV)

Baixa Pombalina is the historical heart of Lisbon's historic trade center. This project returns an old dwelling for commercial use in a proposal to a law firm.The interior design was born of an intention to enrich the existing architecture  

LEFT bar . Lisboa . 2004 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©FG+SG)

 Since the mid-twentieth century the space served as a warehouse and the great original vaulted nave was divided with false walls and ceilings. The LEFT bar concentrates in this proposal several levels of intervention: cleaning of the space to return the nave to its original proportion; building a mezzanine that dominates part of the space of the great nave. A high vaulted ceiling space unifies two levels that integrate the entire bar area.  

Habitações no Douro-Morgadio da Calçada . Sabrosa . 2004-12 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©RCJV)

 Casa da Calçada, in the Douro, with a regular plant and erudite matrix, was the aggregating nucleus of a vast estate and, as such, has several agricultural buildings connected to it. These supports, in a state of abandonment, form a group of small vernacular buildings around a courtyard. This project rehabilitates this set for tourist accommodation [560.00m2]. This proposal evidences the existing elements in the property, using the ruins, opening and revealing spaces once occupied with adulterated constructions, rehabilitating and recovering its character of habitation and leaving the existing ruin to shelter part of the proposed program.  

Apartamento / Apartment LA . Lisboa . 2004 (com Ricardo Carvalho) (©RCJV)

 This project transforms the space of an office into a rehabilitation operation for housing. The project seeks to return to the Pombaline construction space and constructive qualities that, due to various vicissitudes, have been adulterated. The proposal is based on the restoration of existing elements, not resorting to demolitions. It consists of the removal of unsuitable objects not belonging to the constructive lexicon of the Pombaline building, restoring its character. The whole intervention seeks to clarify the original elements of the apartment.  


(RCJV) Ricardo Carvalho + Joana Vilhena arquitectos - 1999/2018