A beautiful 18th-century building is restored by architecture practice Aires Mateus who will utilize the space as a studio.
The work is truly striking and extravagant. The firm focused on preserving key features in the design, as well as refurbishing "the ornate paintings and decorative stucco ceilings." The beautiful 18th-century building was originally erected in 1779, with two additional stories added 20 years later. Aires Mateus revamped the layout of the structure to house "working and meeting spaces, two model-making areas, and a multipurpose room." The atmosphere is juxtaposed with the subtly contemporary design of the furniture.
Aside from providing a sizable space for the architecture practice, the decorative features are what truly make the new office building incredibly unconventional, with hints to baroque aesthetics.
Image Credit: Rui Cardoso
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Historic Building Restoration
- Architecture firms are utilizing a trend of restoring historic buildings that preserve their key features while updating layouts and functionality for modern use.
- Extravagant Office Spaces
- The trend of creating opulent, extravagant office spaces is becoming more popular, indicating a desire to make work environments more luxurious and comfortable for employees.
- Baroque Design Influences
- The baroque design movement is experiencing a resurgence in architecture, interior design, and furniture design, highlighting opportunities for innovation in incorporating ornate, decorative elements and motifs into contemporary design.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture
- Architecture firms will continue to play a key role in the restoration and renovation of historic buildings to meet modern functional needs with unique style.
- Interior Design
- Interior designers can capitalize on the trend of lavish, ornate office spaces by helping companies create comfortable and visually impressive environments that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
- Furniture
- Furniture designers can incorporate elements of baroque design into their pieces, drawing inspiration from the ornate ceilings and paintings in historic buildings to create luxurious, standout furniture pieces for extravagant office spaces.
