Space Technology

By: Richard Jones
Lisbon has been emerging as a strong contender on the international design spectrum for at least a decade but it wasn’t until it was announced that Norman Foster will design a commercial complex that will host studios, galleries, shops, restaurants and nightclubs, that this regeneration project was receiving international interest. In today’s world of the celebrity designer, it seems that in order to receive (a) the investment and (b) the interest, that building projects have to be headed by an international design top trump such as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers or in this case Foster.

This undoubtedly garners public interest in a building project and serves to attract those peripheral aficionados of architecture and design, whom are typically upwardly mobile and travel for leisure regularly. The apparent motivation according to a press release is to promote “the worlds of design and the arts”.  It certainly doesn’t seem to be doing any harm for the tourism in Bilbao, Spain; which saw a massive increase in tourism thanks to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim.  Lisbon shares the same seafaring history as its Basque cousin, which was totally rejuvenated thanks to the regeneration projects along the Nervión that took place in the 90’s.

Some of the design highlights that Lisbon has to offer are:

Leonel Moura Arte space

This is the work and gallery space of artist Leonel Moura, who made the switch from photography based artwork to Artificial intelligence and Robot art.  His models are programmed to design and paint and the work is then displayed, he has dealt in the past with themes including  insect-human activity.  His art space can be found at:

Rua das Janelas Verdes, 76, Lisbon

Left

After a long day of cultural exploration there is no better way to wind down than with a caprinha in Left.   With a crowd as eclectic as the music policy you are sure to find what you are looking for.  The Dj roster appears to change frequently but when I was there I was treated to a musical treat in the form of Lisbon’s Glitch-hop pioneers Mr. Glitz and Mutsihirato. 

Largo Vitorino Damásio, 3F (a Santos, Lisboa)

Yasmin

This laid back restaurant has a sleek and sexy interior including a polished concrete floor and Saarinen tulip chairs in the dining room. Chef Gualberto Casaca da Silva's menu changes rapidly and is a sophisticated fusion of traditional Portuguese ingredients and Asian and Mediterranean influences.  Dj’s provide a soundtrack of chillout and jazz for the diners.

Rua da Moeda 1a, Lisbon, 1200

ExperimentaDesign Biennale

This noteworthy cultural Biennale takes place in Lisbon and Amsterdam.  The content of the Bienalle is design in its very broadest sense, with the main focus on the project motivation methodology and secondly the finished product.  It showcases original project concepts through conferences, screenings, exhibitions, workshops, debates and urban interventions. 

The Biennale runs from 15th September until the 2nd of November across a range of venues throughout the city.

Museu do Design (MuDe)

No trip to Lisbon is complete without a trip to MuDe which is currently in transit, waiting for the new premises to be completed, scheduled to open in early 2010 in Rua Augusta, Baixa.  It contains design and fashion accolades such as Francisco Capelo's fashion collection made up of 1200 couture pieces, including a famous Jean Desses gown that Renee Zellweger wore to the 2001 Oscars and Christian Dior's landmark 1947 New Look.

Richard Jones writes for WayToStay.com, an online bookings agency that provides short term rentals in the most important European cities, including Lisbon. For more information about the apartments in Lisbon available please visit www.WayToStay.com.