Locke de Santa Joana, the newest outpost of the global aparthotel brand Locke, has opened in Lisbon. Located just off the Avenida da Liberdade, the property occupies a former 17th-century convent. The hotel’s opening brings a new lodging option to Lisbon’s hospitality scene, blending historic architecture with modern amenities.
Preserving the Past
During a five-year renovation, workers discovered tens of thousands of artifacts hidden within the derelict structure. This bounty included elaborate blue tiles, prompting the developers to create an on-site museum. The team behind the project, including New York-based Post Company and designer Lázaro Rosa Violán, worked to highlight these historical elements. Simple mouldings and panelled millwork give dimension to the rooms, while the soft warm hue of the walls unifies all the details.
The subtle palette of beiges, greys and forest greens, and blonde oak floors by UK-based manufacturer Atkinson & Kirby, are accented by rich textiles, ceramic pieces by Grau Cerâmica and period details including marble columns framing the beds in some of the spaces. Most materials, from fabrics to stone, were sourced within Portugal to underline a sense of place and celebrate the country’s long-standing craft traditions.
Related: Camira Launches Upland, Merging Style with Subtle Contrast
The interior design draws heavily on the site’s history. Lázaro Rosa Violán has deployed a mix of moodier, low-lit and velvet-accented spaces to airier, plush ones. There is plenty of art from local and international artists scattered throughout. The result is cheerful, colourful and contemporary, but respectful of the site’s spirit too.
Work and Play in Lisbon
Locke chooses to commission different designers for each of its properties to avoid a cookie-cutter effect. This hotel – the biggest in its 16-strong collection so far – is set around a verdant courtyard complete with a small but pretty swimming pool. Whether they are in the old convent or in the three new blocks surrounding it, the 370 light-filled, white- washed rooms have a serene and minimalist (though not necessarily monastic) air.
Given how many people from all over Europe have been drawn to Portugal to work remotely over the past few years, lured by the country’s relaxed lifestyle and relatively low cost of living, it makes sense that Locke should be pitching itself to suit longer stays. Many of the generously sized rooms are set up with a colour- popping kitchen and a dining area, with enough space to spread out a yoga mat, and textural sofas and armchairs lending a particularly homely feel. Crucially, there is a dedicated co-working space – which also prevents the lobby from being taken over by those working on laptops – as well as meeting rooms and event spaces.
