REITORIA
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Photography: João Guimarães
Interior Design: AREA Store
Launch: 2024
Art Meets Architecture
A centerpiece of the University City of Lisbon, the majestic Rectory building is a prime example of early Portuguese modernism. Commissioned in the 1930s as part of the "university neighborhood" project, it was designed by architect Porfírio Pardal Monteiro and completed in 1961, after his death.
To make the building truly representative, Pardal Monteiro brought in architect Daciano da Costa, who oversaw the design of important spaces like the Aula Magna, Portugal’s largest lecture hall at the time, known for its excellent acoustics, and the Noble Hall, which features two frescoes by da Costa reflect the University’s motto, Ad Lucem (To the Light).
Art Meets Architecture
A centerpiece of the University City of Lisbon, the majestic Rectory building is a prime example of early Portuguese modernism. Commissioned in the 1930s as part of the "university neighborhood" project, it was designed by architect Porfírio Pardal Monteiro and completed in 1961, after his death.
To make the building truly representative, Pardal Monteiro brought in architect Daciano da Costa, who oversaw the design of important spaces like the Aula Magna, Portugal’s largest lecture hall at the time, known for its excellent acoustics, and the Noble Hall, which features two frescoes by da Costa reflect the University’s motto, Ad Lucem (To the Light).
To enhance the building's academic and grand design, several contemporary artists contributed. The main vestibule features eight enamel mosaic panels by painter António Lino, symbolizing key areas of knowledge. There are also stained-glass windows designed by Lino and made by José Alves Mendes, representing the University’s insignia and the national shield.
To enhance the building's academic and grand design, several contemporary artists contributed. The main vestibule features eight enamel mosaic panels by painter António Lino, symbolizing key areas of knowledge. There are also stained-glass windows designed by Lino and made by José Alves Mendes, representing the University’s insignia and the national shield.
After more than 60 years, much of the building’s design remains intact, with its original aesthetic and functionality still in use. Today, the building's public spaces are used for presentations, conferences, and concerts.
In the Passos Perdidos atrium, leading to the first floor, is the striking Aula Magna door, a masterpiece painted at the António Arroio School, supervised by Lino. The door opens directly onto the stage, a treasure within the University. From the audience, one could watch the academic procession descend from the Noble Hall and enter the stage through this grand golden door. Before entering the Noble Hall, three panels by Hein Semke, gifted in 1985, can also be seen—works originally made for the Ritz Hotel and completed after Pardal Monteiro's death.
The Reitoria Selection
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