Title in Lisbon by green lung, Monsanto has, in many ways, been left to natural deterioration, lacking functional and appealing structures that support the needs of the city’s inhabitants.

Alongside the new lifestyle trends of the Portuguese population, particularly those living in large urban centres, there is a growing demand for green spaces used for sports, leisure activities or simply for enjoying greater contact with nature. Monsanto is no exception, despite the evident lack of adequate conditions within the forest park.

Responding to the expectations of many Lisbon residents, and after a long period of anticipation, several requalification projects are currently being developed by the Lisbon City Council and by the parish councils responsible for different areas of Monsanto.

Within this context, the Parish Council of Benfica launched a public rehabilitation tender, which has now been completed by CVZ – Construções. In partnership with the architecture practice Bruno Câmara Arquitectos, the full design and construction of a new restaurant and bar with exterior areas was developed, including several pedestrian paths and leisure zones in the surrounding landscape.

Bruno Câmara Arquitectos adopted the concept of a white forest to create a project characterised by the use of white and by minimalist lines rooted in modern and contemporary architecture.

According to architect Bruno Câmara, the author of the project, this concept materialises all proposed elements and integrates them into the landscape of Monsanto. The entire design was developed from the pedestrian paths, defined by three thousand four hundred and eleven wooden trunks painted white, whose curved and organic forms create a series of exterior spaces with different functions, from small outdoor auditoriums to leisure areas, surrounding the main restaurant and bar building, with both interior and exterior zones that emphasise spatial quality and the connection to the natural environment.

The new construction stands out through the presence of its minimalist white volume set within the green landscape of Monsanto, creating harmony with its surroundings through both its curved lines and materiality, while introducing a contemporary reading of the forest setting.

Team

Bruno Câmara, André Rodrigues, Beatriz Gomes, Carlos Pinto, Leandro Sales