The second life of an architect's house in Portugal

BY NICOLAS MILON | PHOTOGRAPHS BY LUIS NOBRE MARCOS

Just 45 minutes from Lisbon, Sintra is famous for its romantic palaces, lush landscapes, and rich history. The house is nestled in this Portuguese national forest , surrounded by abundant vegetation and breathtaking views. The landscape and proximity to the ocean bring a natural light and serenity that would profoundly influence interior designer Alicia Murphy's approach to her renovation. "The house was designed in the 1960s by Portuguese architect Francisco da Conceição Silva, an iconic figure of modern architecture in Portugal," says the founder of Alicia Murphy Design. "It has remained largely in its original state, a rare and remarkable preservation of mid-century modernist architecture." From the start, Alicia's intention was to respect the original structure, preserving its architectural character while modernizing the interiors to suit today's lifestyles.

In the sunken living room designed by Francisco da Conceição Silva, in front of a *Camaleonda* sofa (B&B Italia), a wicker coffee table by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina (Monc XIII) and a side table by Piero Lissoni for Cassina (Monc XIII). Cushions (ALT for Living). Carpet (ABC Home). Luís Nobre Guedes

Remarkable architecture

The owners, an American family of six who moved to Portugal from East Hampton on Long Island, have a lifestyle centered around family, friends, and travel. It was important to Alicia Murphy to create a home that was both welcoming and functional, with spaces that could accommodate friends while also providing a peaceful haven. The house is spacious—3,200 square feet—with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and multiple living areas. The original layout emphasized fluidity of movement between rooms and light through large windows that opened onto the surrounding landscape, so there's no need to revisit it. Distinctive architectural details, such as the sunken living room , the double-height stone fireplace, and the Brazilian woodwork and beams that give the house its authenticity, have of course been retained.

The double-height fireplace nook is clad in stone. This cladding, preserved by Alicia Murphy, gives this unique interior its character, not to mention the stone slab floor and the weathered wooden beams and ceiling. Above an ecru sofa (Dmitry & Co.), hangs a work of art by David Sheer. In front, a second-hand coffee table, an ottoman (Maiden Home), and two vintage fireside chairs (Lawson & Fenning). Fireplace accessories (Eldvarm). Rug (ABC Home). Luís Nobre Guedes

Respect the omnipresent wood and stone

“This is primarily a decorating project. Since the house was already in excellent condition, we focused on choosing furniture and adding artwork that would add warmth and personality.” Alicia Murphy’s goal? To remain true to the spirit of the house while infusing it with the taste and sensibilities of the new owners, creating seamless transitions between rooms by utilizing furniture placement and playing with natural and artificial light sources to maintain the existing flow of circulation. She began logically by opting for a mix of natural, tactile materials—linen, wool, wood, and stone—that echoed the house’s original color palette. A deliberately light and neutral palette, designed to harmonize with the abundant natural light: from the soft whites of a Camaleonda sofa to the sandy beige of the bedroom walls and the earth or stone tones of the dining and living room floors. These material tones form a base on which the interior designer adds more daring accents, such as the navy-colored wall paint and the photographic work of Petros Koublis in the TV room, or vintage furniture in the fireplace corner – armchairs and a coffee table.

The dining room has that delightful 1960s modernist style. The time-worn terracotta rectangular floor complements the dark amber coffered ceiling. In front of a wall decoration (Aurélien Serre) found at Marché Serpette, around a round table, sit *Surf Sling Brown Leather* chairs (CB2). *Float 2.0* pendant light (SkLO). Rug (Lulu and Georgia). Luís Nobre Guedes

Modernism and contemporary comfort

Thus, the patina of antique pieces found at trusted addresses in New York and Europe is matched by selected new furniture, creating an eclectic alchemy that favors authenticity over staging, in an atmosphere that is both lived-in and contemporary. Art plays an essential role, with works by David Scheer, Petros Koublis and Giorgio Pasqualetti in a dynamic dialogue between Portugal and the Hamptons . Alicia Murphy instills a continuity between the spaces that nevertheless leaves each room with its own personality. A modernist time capsule and a warm family refuge, the house is a successful balance between architectural purity and familiar comfort, past and present, in a warm minimalism imbued with natural raw materials that ideally honors the architectural legacy of Francisco da Conceição Silva.