The Baixa Pombalina district in the historic centre of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, was rebuilt after the terrible earthquake of 1755. This reconstruction was carried out according to a comprehensive urban grid plan dictated by the first Marquis of Pombal – after whom the district is named – a certain Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, later Prime Minister of José I of Portugal between 1750 and 1777. Among the strict requirements he imposed, in addition to the grid of its streets, was the construction of buildings using anti-seismic methods – of which Baixa Pombalina is, by the way, one of the first examples in the world.
In this respect, we cannot fail to mention, even in passing, the invention at that time of the so-called ‘pombaline cage’, a wooden lattice structure, integrated into the masonry walls, designed to distribute the forces exerted on them by earthquakes and therefore make the buildings more seismically resistant. Well, and this is what interests us, in the heart of Baixa Pombalina stands the five-star Art Legacy hotel, a space where past and present meet, a place that moves away from the conventional to pay a living tribute to architectural heritage, art and hospitality.
A building with a soul
The history of the building that houses the Art Legacy Hotel begins in 1918, when the company Seguros Sagres built it between 175 and 181 Rua do Ouro, where its headquarters and offices are located. The next record of the building’s fate indicates that, in the 1960s, it was acquired by the Bensaúde Group – ‘the largest private company in the Azores, ranked among the 100 largest companies in Portugal [today]’, with 200 years of history and activity in distribution, energy, transport and logistics, tourism and services. Although the company moved its headquarters to the Azores in 1974, the upper floors of the building kept its offices on the mainland, while the ground floors housed various shops and businesses.
Since then, until the start of renovation works in 2018, there has been no news of the property’s fate. Promoted by AT Group and My Story Hotels, the refurbishment took more than 4 years, until its opening in December 2023 as what it is today, the Art Legacy Hotel. The architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade directed the meticulous restoration, in accordance with the Plano de Pormenor de Salvaguarda de la Baixa Pombalina – regulations that determine the actions on historic buildings with the aim of preserving them – including the Beaux Arts style façade, the original essence of the building.
An architectural style from the recent past
The Beaux Arts style, also known as French Academicism, originates from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris. Architecture embracing this style is characterized by symmetry and the hierarchy of spaces—grand entrances and staircases, while secondary, more utilitarian spaces are distinguished by a profusion of more or less explicit historicist references, a tendency toward eclecticism, and the use of a variety of architectural details (balustrades, pilasters, reliefs and sculptures, garlands, supporting cornices, etc.).
Whilst the Art Legacy’s façade takes us back to the early 20th century, its interior is a tribute to avant-garde design. “With a unique vision of design and aesthetics, architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade incorporated the essence of the iconic Moooi brand,” reads one section of the hotel’s website. The result is evident in spaces where “beauty merges with functionality.” The 53 rooms, meanwhile, envelop guests in an immersive aesthetic experience, with a combination of vibrant colours and classic elements, and ” an air of energy and personality“.
A Michelin Key
The Art Legacy Lisboa was recently awarded the Michelin Key, a prestigious distinction that the guide has awarded since 2024—on a scale of 1 to 3, the same as the stars it grants to restaurants—to hotels that stand out for their unique design, impeccable service, and the memorable experiences they provide their guests. The hotel celebrates the Michelin Key as “validation of a unique identity”, the result of the fertile dialogue between historic architecture and avant-garde design. The Michelin Guide puts it this way: “An elegant century-old office building in downtown Lisbon is now the luxurious Art Legacy Hotel Baixa-Chiado, a boutique hotel with designer clout”. Furthermore, the establishment was recently honoured with the 2024 World Luxury Awards.
Sources: Art Legacy Hotels, Rebelo de Andrade, Magazine Imobiliário, Publituris Hotelaria, MAD White, Ambitur, Guía Michelín.
Images: Art Legacy Hotels, Rebelo de Andrade.
