The Convent of Santa Joana belonged to the Order of Preachers and its foundation dates back to the year 1699 in the seventeenth century. Originally endowed with a church, houses and workshops, it was to undergo a new campaign of works after the great earthquake of 1755, becoming defunct in 1890, upon the death of the last nun. In the 20th century, the church would be disconnected from the rest of the buildings which continued to serve distinct functions but in a progressively worse state of conservation.
Design Narrative & Architecture
The architectural intervention is thoughtfully divided into three distinct volumes, each dictating a different degree of heritage articulation:
The Heritage Building (East - Rua de Santa Marta): Comprising structures mapped since 1757, this volume features the meticulous rehabilitation of the original 18th-century facades. Traditional lime-based plaster was used to allow the ancient masonry to "breathe," while existing stone arches and archaeological elements were carefully preserved and integrated to anchor the hotel in its historic context.
The Contemporary Addition (West - Rua Camilo Castelo Branco): Facing a modern urban artery, this newly constructed volume introduces a debuted, contemporary architectural language. Its massing is carefully articulated, stepping down to align with the adjacent mid-century Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This volume acts as a modern catalyst, framing the transition from the bustling street down into the secluded courtyard.
The Epicenter (Central Old Church & Choirs): Functioning as the heart of the complex, the central church and its adjacent high and low choirs underwent rigorous restoration. Without introducing new structural burdens to the central nave, the church has been reimagined as a majestic Food & Beverage venue. Historic tiles, original wooden floors, and a stunning two-column double gantry from the 1700s have been meticulously restored.
Interior Design & Atmosphere (Locke Living)
The interior concept bridges the convent's historic grandeur with the approachable comfort of contemporary living. The design is deliberately not a museum; it relies on a hierarchy of details, moving effortlessly from the ornate to the ordinary, to establish a casual confidence.
The Apartments: The 370 residential-style suites feature a sublimely understated interpretation of the convent’s DNA. Creamy lime-washed walls, simple moldings, and light wooden floors serve as a tranquil canvas. This minimal architecture is playfully contrasted by eclectic, tactile FF&E, curved headboards, whimsical lighting, and velvet upholstery, creating a space that is both ethereal and profoundly comfortable.
Public Spaces & F&B: The main church restaurant has the well-worn, convivial atmosphere of an old Lisbon tavern, boasting soaring ceilings, distressed mirrors, and a patchwork of original marble and concrete floors. In stark contrast, the cocktail bar is a lush, dimly lit sanctuary featuring vaulted brick ceilings and solid bronze spigots, embracing the ritualistic symbolism of the former convent.
Landscape & Sustainability
The transition between the distinct architectural volumes is mediated by a sprawling, multi-level interior courtyard that serves as the hotel's lush "living room."
The Courtyard Oasis: Guests enter through grand wrought-iron gates into a serene, densely planted paradise. The courtyard features crushed stone paths, a restored historic stone fountain, a natural stone dipping pool, and a grove of mature olive and orange trees. A custom cast-iron glasshouse conservatory acts as an open-air extension of the restaurant, glowing like a jewel at night.
Environmental Stewardship: Guided by S+A Green Lab, the project pursues BREEAM International New Construction certification. The landscape design radically increases the site's permeable surface (totaling over 1,226 sqm). In a poetic nod to the convent's ancestral practices, the project includes underground cisterns for rainwater harvesting, ensuring that the lush native gardens are sustained through high water efficiency and sustainable irrigation.
Through an exquisite balance of restraint, preservation, and contemporary folly, Locke de Santa Joana stands as an emotional and architectural landmark, a space where Lisbon’s rich past and vibrant present comfortably reside under one roof.
