Do Sol by AB+AC Architects
Set within one of Lisbon’s most sought-after neighbourhoods, Do Sol is a serene apartment renovation by AB+AC Architects that explores flexibility, restraint, and intentional living.
The project reimagines a two-bedroom corner apartment as a generously proportioned one-bedroom home, prioritising comfort and clarity over excess. The approach is minimalist yet considered, responding to contemporary urban lifestyles while remaining grounded in calm and longevity.
Rather than designing for a specific client, co-founders Arianna Bavuso and Andre Chedid examined local demographics and market behaviour to shape an ideal inhabitant: an internationally minded young professional with a strong focus on wellness, movement, and everyday balance. This conceptual framework informed spatial decisions throughout the apartment, ensuring each area supports both functionality and ease.
The layout is organised along a gentle L-shaped sequence, guiding movement from shared spaces into more private zones. The kitchen and living room sit at the centre of the plan, conceived as open, social environments that encourage interaction. One of the project’s key architectural interventions was the removal of a previously enclosed corridor. In its place, a series of arcades now lines the façade, drawing daylight deep into the apartment while echoing the building’s curved exterior. This strategy enhances spatial continuity, improves cross-ventilation, and frames extended views across the city.
The apartment is conceived as a counterpoint to the distractions of contemporary life. Clearly defined zones—including a dedicated dining area, a walk-in wardrobe, and generous storage—encourage focused engagement with daily routines. Each function is given its own place, supporting a slower and more deliberate way of living that values clarity over compression.
Material choices reinforce this sense of calm. An off-white palette reflects Lisbon’s abundant natural light, amplifying brightness across the interior while maintaining a soft, neutral atmosphere. Texture plays a crucial role in avoiding sterility. Custom-built furniture in dark wenge-finished pine introduces warmth and contrast, while stainless steel elements appear throughout the kitchen, bathroom, and detailing, lending a subtle industrial edge.
The bedroom is designed as a quiet retreat, anchored by a low, Japanese-inspired bed that emphasises horizontality and rest. Adjacent to it, the walk-in closet is finished with a high-silk-content moquette floor, turning an everyday activity into a tactile experience. In contrast, the bathroom adopts a more enveloping character. Terrazzo tiles with a dark, granite-like base and fine micro-pebbles create depth and visual weight, while a custom stainless-steel shower mesh adds a sensory dimension through sound and texture.
Do Sol reflects AB+AC Architects’ interest in balancing practicality with serenity. The apartment is not treated merely as a place to live, but as a supportive environment—one that restores focus, encourages reflection, and offers a sense of calm within the pace of urban life.
