Lisbon’s Barão Sabrosa Apartment: Aurora Arquitectos Transforms a Gaioleiro Semi-Basement into Luminous Open Space

The Barão Sabrosa Apartment, a compact yet conceptually rich project in the heart of the Portuguese capital, is the latest masterclass from Aurora Arquitectos. This isn’t merely a renovation; it’s a sensitive act of reclamation, transforming a historically challenging space into a luminous, modern dwelling that celebrates Lisbon architecture’s vernacular charm while embracing open-space design principles. The studio has managed to redefine the potential of the often-overlooked semi-basement.

Tucked away on the semi-basement level of a traditional Gaioleiro building, the apartment presented a complex design puzzle. The Gaioleiro building, a housing typology characteristic of the city between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often features restrictive, dark interiors. Yet, this particular 64 m² unit benefits from a unique condition: a dramatic level difference between the street and the rear courtyard, which was expertly leveraged by the design team to draw in natural light from an unexpected, elevated source.

Aurora Arquitectos’ solution to this subterranean setting was to treat the limited area not as a volume to be filled, but as a space to be articulated. They prioritized maximum flexibility and luminosity, achieving a seamless open-space designacross the entire floor plan. The crucial move in this small apartment design was to forgo conventional fixed walls in favour of strategic, sculptural insertions that define function without sacrificing the visual flow.

These new interventions are described by the studio as light elements—sculptural, almost furniture-like volumes that perform the essential task of spatial division without erecting opaque barriers. Their careful shape and specific materiality ensure a continuous, flowing feel, simultaneously marking distinct functional zones, a testament to thoughtful interior design and spatial efficiency. The materials chosen are deliberately contemporary but warm, offering a subtle, tactile contrast with the aged structure.

The most poetic aspect of the project lies in how these modern additions engage in a careful dialogue with the existing arches of the old structure. The architectural renovation consciously frames and highlights these historical features, using the new light elements to echo their curves and define their significance. This interplay transforms the semi-basement from a dark, forgotten corner into a visually dynamic and historically resonant experience, constantly changing with the intensity of the incoming natural light.

By employing a clever material and structural vocabulary, the architects successfully subverted the limitations of a typical semi-basement renovation. The Barão Sabrosa Apartment stands as an exemplary model for urban renewal, proving that intelligent architectural renovation can imbue tiny, historic spaces with a sense of vastness, flexibility, and a profound connection to the city’s past, all while delivering a beautiful piece of contemporary interior design.