Essentially centred on spatial restructuring, 25 de Abril is one of the restoration and rehabilitation projects by Mariana Menano and Gonçalo Diniz in Lisbon. “Our purpose was not only to enhance their daily use but also to readapt the entire apartment to a more contemporary way of living,” say the founders of the MENNIZ architecture and interior design studio.

With particular attention to the social areas, the team opted to demolish a room - in Portugal, it was common to build interior bedrooms for the housekeeper - allowing it to be converted into a continuously open living area.

Combining these three distinct spaces - kitchen, living room, and bedroom - into a single social area makes it possible to create greater spatial amplitude with specific areas dedicated to socialising and dining. This reconfiguration benefits the property from more natural light and smoother movement between spaces.

Worth noting is that the living area has three large windows overlooking the Tejo River, allowing sunlight to enter and illuminate every corner of the house. To distinguish the entrance area from the living spaces, the MENNIZ team designed an oak cabinet. As a support for the console, this element helps to filter the relationship between the social areas and the hall.

The materials were carefully chosen to provide a comfortable, light, and cosy atmosphere in every room. Mariana and Gonçalo opted for wooden flooring in the bedrooms and social spaces, combined with sandy-coloured microconcrete on the bathroom floors and walls.