The former Grilas Convent and Officers' Residence in Lisbon will be completely transformed and will give way to a sustainable collaborative living space, the future Co-living Beato, which is the result of a partnership between Lisbon City Council, Unicorn Factory and Mota-Engil.
The public presentation session of the project took place this Monday and marks the start of the refurbishment works, and was attended by Carlos Moedas, President of Lisbon City Council, Carlos Mota Santos, CEO of Mota-Engil, and Gil Azevedo, Executive Director of Unicorn Factory Lisboa, who took a guided tour of the construction site. For Carlos Moedas, President of CML, "this was a long-promised project that we have now been able to realise. It's yet another historic building that has been rehabilitated, which will modernise the parish of Beato and reinforce the dynamics that the Unicorn Factory has brought to that part of the city."
EMERGE, Mota-Engil's development company, will implement more innovative co-living concepts in this rehabilitated space, "while also taking an active role in boosting a technological, creative and entrepreneurial community, in line with the city's urban identity", a press release reads. Carlos Mota Santos, CEO of Mota-Engil, emphasised on the occasion that "this is not just a building. It's a new model of urban housing. A living space that will harbour innovation, community and the future. This project is a gesture of confidence in the future: a sustainable, accessible and transformative housing response, anchored in sharing, collaboration and belonging. Mota-Engil is proud to be part of this vision of a city on the move."
According to Lusa, the approximately 80 accommodation units, with 137 rooms, will be spread over 4 floors, with common areas such as shared kitchens, laundry rooms, living rooms and terraces. Sustainability is one of the main concerns, and includes solar energy and integration into the Beato energy community.
This project is signed by Promontório Arquitetos and recovers heritage with more than 350 years of history, preserving original elements such as façades, staircases, vaults and the emblematic clock, which "will be reinterpreted through a contemporary architectural language", the same press release reads.
It should be remembered that the Grilas Convent was created in 1663 by order of Queen Luísa de Gusmão, and for more than two centuries it was home to the Order of St Augustine. The Grilas nuns contributed to the dynamisation of Beato by getting involved in economic and port activity, having also created a large warehouse for the sale of goods arriving at the Port of Lisbon.
In the 20th century, it was part of the Military Maintenance infrastructure and served as a dormitory for the Portuguese Army.
In 2021, with the creation of the Unicorn Factory, the space gained a new dynamic and now has more than 1,500 employees and 16 companies. Since 2022, it has hosted more than 150 events in the areas of culture, education and technology, including Lisbon Urban Rehabilitation Week, organised by Vida Imobiliária - a brand by Grupo Iberinmo.