Factory Lisbon

Beato, Lisboa
12.400m²

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Factory Lisbon is the adaptive reuse of a 1973 cookie and noodle factory of the Portuguese military. The heritage protected building sits on Lisbon‘s harbor front, in a historic army supply complex, currently being transformed into an innovation district, Hub Criativo de Beato.
Shaped to house noodle machines, the building is 200m long and only 11m wide.
This slender volume would normally require the introduction of several concrete cores for emergency circulation. In order to avoid such a disruptive intervention, all circulation has been attached externally. In the shape of lightweight steel walkways and single-flight stairs, it meanders along the façades, and weaves around the historic silos and an elevator shaft in the centre of the building. Here, the stairs are suspended from the ceiling, to minimise their structural impact. The new elevator shaft is clad with mirrors, so it blends with the historic colours and features.
The ribbon-shaped circulation ties together Factory‘s unique blend of program and design principle: office spaces for large companies and start-ups are combined with event spaces, local restaurants and a 2.000m² public access roof terrace. The design approach is to retain old materials and surfaces wherever possible, and contrast with contemporary elements of concrete, steel, glass and wood.
Factory Lisbon aims to make a multilayered and nuanced impact on Beato‘s local community. There is a strong focus on making the venue accessible to a diverse local and international public, beyond that of the typical conference business: current events cover tech, food, gender, skateboarding, fashion, architecture and art, on both a for- and non-profit basis.
Architecture and concept have been developed in an interdisciplinary and collaborative effort. Aligning bold architecture respectfully along it’s given context is the shared Leitmotiv of Factory‘s founder Simon Schaefer, and the architects Julian Breinersdorfer, José Baganha and Angela Maurice.
In-line with these design principles, all major interventions are drawn as white steel lines. They add or fix what is necessary, while leaving the historic building body legible and intact.
In addition to the walkways, St. Andreas crosses have been attached to make the building earthquake resistant, brick façade elements have been opened as white-framed glazing, to bring light in or allow for circulation, and mezzanine floors have been extended to use high spaces more efficiently.
The necessary technical installations are treated as veins, unashamedly taking their place in the building's body. They are visible as technological transformations, adapting the functionality of an old food production facility to contemporary office and event uses.

Plants and wooden buildout elements bring a nonindustrial softness, without leaving the 1970‘s palette. Historic details like two cookie machines, the yellow perforated brick walls, or damaged marble staircases have been lovingly restored and integrated.
All building materials, finishes and geometries have been selected to vibrate with Lisbon‘s magic atlantic light.


Client: Factory
Concept Direction: Simon Schaefer
Artwork and Signage: Constantin Peyfuss
Carlota Pires de Almeida
Jeremy Bamberg

Design Architect: Julian Breinersdorfer Architekten
Lena Brandt
Alessandro Cugola
Corinna Studier
Gareth Hammond

Permit Architect: José Baganha Arquitectos
Raquel Coutinho
Carolina Costa

Project Architect: Angela Maurice Arquitectos
Goncalo Soares

Facade contractor: F&J Lotra
Partitions: Line Systems
Electrical installations: Iberinstal
HVAC: Engavac
Wood Panelling: MBF
Construction Manager: Pedro Reis
Supervision: Afaplan
Technical Coordinator: Alberto Cabral
Structural engineer: Ricardo Sampaio, Duarte Silveira
Fire engineer: Antonio Matias, Daniel Arena
Restaurant Design: Marta Fea - Foodriders
Acoustic consultant: Inside Building
Lighting consultant: Lledo, Ohm Light Design
Photography: Francisco Nogueira, Guillaume Bonn