2 Set: Buildings on Calçada do Desterro, nºs 13 to 13-A, Set of two buildings located on Calçada do Desterro, on Pátio da Bica, 11-D, and on Calçada do Desterro, 13 to 13-B.

Category: Civil Architecture > Building

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Pena

Location

This set of buildings is nestled in the heart of Lisbon, on Calçada do Desterro, a typical street on Lisbon's slopes that winds through the historic Pena neighborhood. Its position, connected not only to the main street but also to the seclusion of Pátio da Bica, gives it a particular atmosphere, characteristic of many older residential areas in the Portuguese capital.

The site is part of a dense and traditional urban fabric, where buildings align, creating a landscape of narrow streets and steep slopes, so characteristic of Lisbon. The surroundings are marked by the daily life of residents, offering an authentic perspective of Lisbon's urbanism, far from the major tourist axes.

Architectural Design and Characterization

The buildings on Calçada do Desterro, designated by numbers 13 to 13-A and also with an extension to Pátio da Bica at number 11-D, represent an example of the residential construction that shaped much of Lisbon. While not notable for their monumentality, their importance lies in their contribution to the coherence and character of the neighborhood they are part of.

These properties, typical of urban construction, reflect the functionality and common materials of their construction period. Their façade, integrated into the urban fabric, may feature elements such as bay windows or wrought-iron balconies, and finishes that tell the story of Lisbon's popular and bourgeois architecture, adapted to the terrain conditions and urban life.

A Portrait of Lisbon's Urbanism

This set of buildings, discreet in its presence, is a testament to Lisbon's urban evolution and how the city developed on its hills. The inclusion of a part of the complex in Pátio da Bica is particularly illustrative of spatial organization in Lisbon, where courtyards and workers' villages became extensions of the streets, creating micro-communities within the larger urban community.

Visiting this location allows the observer to understand the human scale and the intricate relationship between buildings and terrain in Lisbon, perceiving how architecture adapts to topography, creating unique environments characteristic of the Portuguese capital. They are structures that tell the story of the daily lives of generations of Lisbon residents.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt