Prior 36 - A Blend of History and Modern Comfort

The Prior do Crato Street (formerly Livramento Street) is located within the protected area of the Palácio das Necessidades complex. The urban fabric follows adapted and organic layouts in accordance with the topography. Hierarchies emerged with wider streets, noble and spacious buildings, intended for commerce and higher social classes, providing healthiness, spaciousness, and habitability.The building, predating 1950, respects the Pombaline style, with four floors including attic spaces, ground-floor shops, and balconies on the first and top floors. The commercial area features high ceilings, stairs designed to maintain the Pombaline facade design, tile works, and two entrances separating the area for the homeowners and the service section. This increased the glamour of receptions, ensured privacy in conversations, and compartmentalized the sounds from the service area. The spaciousness, abundant natural light, and prioritization of functionality over decorative Rococo elements not only invoke Enlightenment principles but also enable faster city reconstruction.The renovation was comprehensive and obtained a new permit and technical record. It involved coordination with the municipal urban planning department and the submission of architectural, stability, domestic and rainwater sewage network, thermal behavior, acoustic behavior, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning projects. By now, you likely understand that this is not a mere facelift renovation.The floor plan optimization was geared towards the use as local accommodation, but you can easily enjoy the benefits of the meticulous renovation. The walls and ceilings were fully covered with plasterboard panels and sound insulation using mineral wool panels. This helps reduce the sound you hear inside the house and its propagation between rooms. The window frames with double glazing and thermal break work in conjunction with solid wood interior shutters and air conditioning to enhance thermal comfort. This resulted in an improvement to a B- energy efficiency rating and extended to materials and equipment, including Love Ceramic Tiles coatings, 12mm Swiss Kronotex flooring, and details such as the perfectly matching Silestone Pulsar countertop and the glossy gold handles of the thermolaminated surfaces. A gas boiler with a 500-liter capacity was installed to support the five bathrooms.You are close to the river, the docks, the Hospital da Luz, and surrounded by a rich history, without experiencing the tightness of more congested secondary streets. Right nearby, you have a playground, Tapada das Necessidades park, and restaurants with outdoor seating at Praça da Armada, where you'll encounter friendly people, like those at the 31 D’Armada restaurant who allowed us to play a bit in the video to give you a better sense of the surroundings.