Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) has revealed its design for two plots, A and B1, within the Entrecampos Masterplan, a development by Fidelidade Property Europe. The project creates a vibrant new destination for the city, providing future-ready workspace, anticipating trends in retail, promoting well-being, and setting ambitious sustainability targets. KPF is the design architect, working in close collaboration with Saraiva Associados (S+A), the architect of record.

At Entrecampos, KPF took inspiration from the city of Lisbon, a city of colour and textures, where stairs cross the city, linking different areas and becoming integrated with the architecture itself. KPF sought to capture the essence of the Lisbon cityscape, with public spaces across different levels, hidden vistas, and buzzing squares lined with restaurants and cafés. The stepped design ensures that most of the office floors have direct access to outdoor space and terraces. KPF’s façade design responds to Lisbon’s rich palette of existing architecture. The six new buildings share a common architectural language, while variations in scale and materiality, as well as the depth and form of the window recesses, create a family of buildings - each with its own identity.

Connected to the Metro station at this level, these streets will create a new shopping district at the heart of Entrecampos – Mercado de Entrecampos – a market that recalls the site’s original use.  The provision of this market anchors KPF’s design in the history of the site and excellent food and beverage venues activate the neighbourhood. The permeable space becomes connective tissue, linking the nearby densely planned residential areas with nearby stand-alone office buildings, and provides space for informal gathering and seasonal programming.

Robert Whitlock, Design Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF):

“It is a dream to be working in Lisbon, building on its architectural heritage, rich materiality, and culture of craft, to participate in the next chapter of the city’s development. The opportunity of this site lies in the potential to create a unique set of spatial experiences and to form a new neighbourhood that will fill the void left by the former cattle market and fairground site. The towers are strategically situated to create courtyards, gardens, and plazas between them, while a multi-level ground plane is introduced to provide seamless connectivity to the adjacent rail lines and locally replicate the varied topography that defines much of Lisbon. The architectural language allows each building to have an individual identity within the wider development while presenting a cohesive whole.”

Miguel Santana, Board Member of Fidelidade Property

“Entrecampos will be a world reference in terms of innovation, design and sustainability, and will bring a new centrality to Lisbon: it will redefine the heart of the city, becoming the new epicenter of the Central Business District. From the first sketch, we are developing the concept with the aim of having a project that is open to the city and invites people to enjoy this space seven days a week, from morning to night. Entrecampos will bring an innovative concept to the city of Lisbon that will bring together a very diverse offer in a unique way. It will be a new vibrant and dynamic neighbourhood that offers the most avant-garde leisure, culture, gastronomy and retail in a single space. This will be a project for the city's inhabitants, but also for its visitors.”

Evidence-Based Sustainability

From the earliest stages of the design competition KPFep, the firm’s dedicated environmental performance, research, and design team, leveraged computational simulation tools to support evidence-based design decisions. The tools helped estimate carbon emissions, thermal performance and daylight access in the buildings to go beyond the goals set by the LEED Platinum standard.

The facades were modelled to maximise natural daylight without over-heating, and the resulting ratio of glass-to-solid, and projecting features, creates a dramatic effect whilst reducing operational energy use.

In contrast to previous proposals for the site, which featured an enclosed shopping mall, retail streets have been moved outdoors, removing the need to mechanically ventilate enclosed retail corridors.

KPFep and the design team analysed and selected materials to use local resources where possible, minimize transportation distances, and reduce embodied carbon.

Microclimate Studies

The KPFep team took advantage of the scale of the development to investigate how the project could positively impact the environment beyond the project’s site and brief. Microclimate studies were used to assess sunlight in public spaces and computational fluid dynamics analysis was used to understand wind pattern and identify and solve issues accentuated by the proximity of the buildings.

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Fidelidade Property Europe SA

Based in Portugal, but managing a worldwide investment portfolio, Fidelidade Property Europe oversees the real estate assets of the Fidelidade Company Group. Founded in 1808, Fidelidade is the leading insurance company in the Portuguese market, benefitting from the largest network in the country and from a consolidated international presence in 13 countries, namely in the African, Asian, European and South American markets. 

About Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF)

Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) is dedicated to elevating cities through impactful architecture, collaborating closely with the world’s most forward-thinking clients to create high performing, carefully crafted buildings that are unique to their physical, social, and environmental contexts.

The firm’s extensive portfolio spans more than 40 countries and includes a wide range of projects from commercial and residential buildings to civic and cultural spaces to education, research, and healthcare facilities. Driven by individual design solutions, rather than a predetermined style, KPF endeavours to design lasting buildings that mitigate their environmental impact and enhance the well-being of the communities they serve.

About SARAIVA+ASSOCIADOS (S+A)

SARAIVA+ASSOCIADOS (S+A) is the leading Portuguese architectural firm, a global design company with locally based solutions. The S+A operations cover a wide range of services, including not only Architecture and Urban Planning but also Design and Sustainability areas.

S+A has offices in 9 countries and has work across 4 Continents, with more than 150 professionals worldwide. Providing integrated architecture, S+A brings almost 30 years of experience and proven success in design, service and project delivery. Innovative technical and sustainable practices are integrated into every stage of the design process to deliver responsible and creative design visions.

For Entrecampos Development in Lisbon, S+A has a successful team with the international perspective and deep domestic experience needed to bring innovative solutions, corresponding with city agencies, enabling code compliance, achieving planning approvals, creating construction documents and carry out construction inspections.