Architects Manuel Vicente and João Santa Rita are the architects of the renovation of the Casa dos Bicos in Lisbon, a 2010th century residence built as a residence for the viceroy of India, transforming it into the headquarters of the José Saramago foundation, the late Portuguese Nobel laureate who died in XNUMX.
It was soon discovered that the building hid a much richer past than anyone imagined. During the renovation, archaeological remains dating back to the Romans and the Moors, and sections of the medieval walls were discovered. Preserving these ruins, therefore, became one of the objectives of the renovation.
Once these archaeological elements were protected, the focus was on the space that houses Saramago's legacy. Located on four levels, the first floor is an exhibition space, with walls covered with the covers of the novels in their various translations, and showcases containing his manuscripts. On the second floor are the administrative offices, which have a view towards the outside, on the olive tree under which Saramago's ashes are buried. The third floor houses the library, and on the fourth floor, an auditorium for film screenings and book presentations.
Photos: David Pereira.