A hyperchromatic canvas of over 2.6 million unique shades shaped by South European light, Lisbon finds a fresh design milestone in Andaz Lisbon. A decade after Hyatt’s lifestyle president Amar Lalvani first envisioned the property, designer Patricia Urquiola has brought it to life. Housed within a block of 18th-century Pombaline architecture—originally rebuilt by the Marquis of Pombal after the 1755 earthquake and later used as the Portuguese Investment Bank—the building was restored by Moerschel Arquitectos. While preserving five original neoclassical facades, the architecture introduces the Gaiola Pombalina, an internal anti-seismic wooden framework, while Urquiola translates local traditions into a contemporary spatial symphony.
18th-Century Wisdom: The Architecture & Lobby
The architectural design, led by Parisian agency RDAI under Artistic Director Denis Montel, merges original historical detailing with contemporary elements. The atrium, redesigned by Foster + Partners, features a newly raised steel-and-glass roof and a spiral limestone and glass staircase finished with a handmade calfskin handrail. The building’s south wall utilizes classic Manchester bricks cast in mirrored glass. Overseen by Hermès Artistic Director Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the Maison houses over five hundred curated artworks, including a bespoke horse sculpture by British artist Jessica Wetherly.
Handcrafted Calçada Portuguesa cobblestones connect the street directly to the lobby, where local Lioz limestone glows under the sun. Behind a green glazed ceramic reception desk, a textile triptych by Luisa Ramires captures the city’s Moorish roots and maritime history. Nearby, the Andaz Lounge reinterprets Lisbon’s late 19th-century Quiosques street pavilions with a luminous ceiling, tile mosaics, and fluid furniture, complemented by Beatrice Bonafini’s cork compositions and Carolina Vaz’s fiber art.
Andaz Lisbon lounge
The dialogue with heritage carries directly into the culinary spaces, tracing historic trade routes across Macau, Mozambique, Angola, Goa, and Brazil. On the top floor, Luzzi Restaurant & Terrace frames panoramic views of the bustling Avenida Augusta and the downtown core, pairing modern Lusitanian gastronomy by Rio-born Chef Bruno Alves with a live soundtrack of Fado and jazz.
At the restaurant’s core, Bar Z introduces a spirited mix of high-saturation blue and orange tones. The space features an African-inspired ceiling canopy and deep blue floors symbolizing the Atlantic, balanced by warm upholstery, Japanese knotted masks, and bold murals. Rather than copying traditional motifs, Urquiola focuses on a modern translation of tropical materials and hand-woven techniques, creating an inviting play of light and texture across the outdoor terrace.
Journey with Local Art: Guest Rooms & Suites
Distributed across a dual-aspect, O-shaped layout over five floors, the 170 guest rooms and suites balance public energy with private stillness. Flooded with natural light via tall neoclassical windows, the interiors adopt a serene, low-stimulus palette. Studio Urquiola’s custom furniture introduces soft lines that temper the historic framework, enhanced by Rosarinho Andrade’s geometric textiles and Studio Farinha Rosa’s tonal diptychs.
Local vernacular defines the smaller interior details: sleek ceramic side tables nod to Moorish influences, while mini-bars feature northern White Port, sour cherry Ginjinha, and custom Vista Alegre espresso cups. In the grander suites, the blue modular Gogan sofa and sculptural Husk armchair break up the structural weight. This rhythm carries into the bathrooms, where warm red tiles mimic the city’s terracotta roofscape, paired with Lioz limestone vanities and amenities from an iconic Swedish fragrance brand.
