A building as a city. That’s the idea behind the Bloco das Águas Livres. This architectural marvel stands before us. It embodies a vision of modern living.
The Bloco das Águas Livres is located on the Praça das Águas Livres. Its address is number 8. It extends to Rua Gorgel do Amaral number 1. Nuno Teotónio Pereira designed it. He collaborated with Bartolomeu Costa Cabral. The project was conceived between 1953 and 1955. Construction finished in 1956.
It’s more than just a residential building. It is a multi-use structure. It offers collective services. These were novel for Portugal at the time. Services included hot water distribution. There was also vertical garbage disposal. It featured elevators and garages.
Nuno Teotónio Pereira drew inspiration from Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier aimed to foster community within residential buildings. Pereira envisioned a high-rise residential unit. It would accommodate various functions. He found a location behind the old Convento do Rato.
The Bloco das Águas Livres sought to replicate Alvalade’s success. It aimed to renew this area of Lisbon. Buildings on Rua D. João V were conservative. The Bloco offered a new architectural style. It promoted a new lifestyle. It combined living spaces with services. It also offered spaces for socializing and leisure.
The building occupies 3540 square meters. It is divided into two sections. This creates a trapezoidal shape. The main building has 12 floors. Eight floors are residential. Each has seven apartments. This totals fifty-six apartments. Below the apartments is an office floor. The top floor has studios. These have vaulted ceilings. There is also a party room.
The Bloco das Águas Livres includes common service areas. There are staff facilities and vertical circulation. It features a heating plant and storage rooms. A doorman’s apartment is also present. There are transformation posts. Garages are available for residents. A former collective laundry is now an office. An exterior gallery with shops faces the Praça das Águas Livres. There is also a social space. It includes a terrace on top of the main building. Open space exists to the west. It makes up about 25% of the total area.
Access to the floors is mainly by elevators. Four elevators serve the ground floor. They provide access to apartments. The service routes in the galleries promote social interaction. The interior circulation follows a pattern. It is based on the flooring near the facilities. These features reflect principles from the Charter of Athens.
The building’s design maximizes sunlight. It aligns along the North-South axis. Living areas face east and west. Studios and offices are on the east facade. Inclined balconies on the south side allow sunlight. The expressive facade is a key feature. The opposite facade is simpler. It houses stairs and elevator towers.
Inside, the Bloco das Águas Livres has two circulation systems. One is for residents. The other is for services. There are separate entrances for each. The apartment section is rectangular. It measures 69.01 meters by 12 meters. It is divided by fifteen transverse porticos.
The building has different zones. These include public areas and business zones. There are residential zones and collective zones. Service areas are also present. These zones are distributed throughout the floors. The first floor is mainly a service area.
The Bloco das Águas Livres features quality materials. These enhance its aesthetic appeal. Details were carefully planned. The aim was to create an aesthetically pleasing environment. Materials include stone and plaster. Concrete wood and glass mosaic were used. Cork and iron are also present. Artworks enhance the building.
Nuno Teotónio Pereira said the goal was creating space for modern life. He saw the building as a modern city. It embodies controlled functionalism. The innovative program organizes a community. It offers common spaces and services. The internal circulation mimics city streets. It connects residences to services.
Today the Bloco das Águas Livres remains fully functional. It stands as a testament to Portuguese architecture. It was classified as a Monument of Public Interest in 2012.