Header: Francisco Nogueira
Casa da Moeda Apartment is a 137-square-metre refurbished apartment in the heart of Lisbon, completed by Aurora Arquitectos between 2022 and 2025. The flat is located inside a “rabo de bacalhau” building, an apartment type linked to Lisbon’s growth in the second half of the 20th century. These buildings have deep plans, thin reinforced concrete slabs and solid masonry partition walls, which means that their layouts are closed and there’s a big separation between all rooms in the house.
Changing the plan entirely
The flat was in reasonable condition, so the work focused on targeted demolition. The old layout placed the bedrooms along the south-facing façade, where the light and street views were best, while the living room, kitchen, former maid’s room and service bathroom were at the north-facing rear, looking into the inner block. The shared rooms were, therefore, located in the darkest part of the flat.
Aurora Arquitectos reversed this arrangement: the former bedrooms on the south side were opened up to create a continuous living, dining and kitchen area. This ended up giving the daily rooms the best light, making them comfortable to be used throughout the day and leaving the intimacy to the private quarters, fostered by the privacy given by not facing the busy streets directly.
The new rooms of Casa da Moeda
The entrance hall had been large in relation to the rest of the flat, which allowed Aurora to use it as the start of a continuous line of cabinetry and pantry storage. This element now runs through the entrance, kitchen and corridor, providing ample storage and contributing to the feeling of an open interior.
The kitchen, now open and inviting, has a cream-stone counter and matching backsplash, and an island with a fluted terracotta-toned base and a pink-stone counter. This pop of warmth complements the creams that are so traditionally used in Portuguese flats, giving it a touch of modernity and fun.
The living room is divided into two areas by a large archway, with one being used for entertainment and the other for hosting or simply enjoying the space. The same style of arch separates the living room from the dining room and the latter from the kitchen. Cream-painted walls, parquet flooring, white furniture and timber create the same cohesive look seen everywhere else in the apartment.
The private rooms were moved away from the south façade and reorganised deeper inside the apartment. The new plan includes a bedroom and a suite, both with built-in wardrobes and the same cream tones and flooring as the other rooms. The bathrooms are small and were given unique colours. One has the same terracotta tones as the ones used in the kitchen’s island, an arched mirror and an integrated vanity. Another is darker, with a speckled terrazzo-like counter and orange-red accents.
Project information
Architecture Company: Aurora Arquitectos
Architecture Team: Sérgio Antunes, Sofia Reis Couto, Carolina Rocha, Kasia Cichecka, Claudia Silveira, Afonso Nunes, Ana Bento, Raquel Sá, Rafael Gonçalves, Joana Orêncio, Inês Silva
Lighting Company: A Linha da Vizinha, João Lopes Iluminação
Engineering Company: Prodetail
Construction Company: Beelt
Carpentry: Socibanho
Frames: Caxiave
Decoration: A Linha da Vizinha
Photo Credit: Francisco Nogueira
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Date: 2025
Area: 137 m²
