Lisbon, a city steeped in history yet boldly contemporary, now hosts an architectural dialogue in the form of Energia de Portugal’s (EDP) new headquarters, masterminded by ELEMENTAL.
Located strategically between Lisbon’s rolling hills and the sweeping Tajo River, the building gracefully resolves a fundamental paradox of urban planning: the need for continuous public space and the functional coherence of an integrated corporate hub.
ELEMENTAL skillfully divides the building into two linear volumes to maintain north-south continuity from hills to river. Yet, the elegance of their solution lies in a subtle gesture—folding the terrain itself. This artificial slope not only preserves pedestrian flow but cleverly creates elevation, enabling panoramic vistas over neighboring structures towards the river. What emerges is an accessible public square at the building’s heart, a democratic space distinctively separate from corporate entrances to uphold civic authenticity and ownership.
The headquarters does more than enhance urban aesthetics; it embodies a considered approach to sustainability. ELEMENTAL marries energy efficiency seamlessly with architectural expression. A carved, monolithic public square enhances thermal mass, eliminating the traditional sense of floor stratification and imbuing the complex with monumental dignity. In stark yet complementary contrast, the perimeter façades deploy rhythmic grids of brise-soleil and recessed glazing, imparting a comfortable, domestic scale to the office environment, mitigating solar heat gain, and improving internal comfort.
Within the interiors, sustainability is activated through thoughtful design details. "Inviting stairs" subtly encourage occupants to engage physically with their surroundings, replacing the convenience of elevators with a compelling appeal to human energy—thus challenging conventional office habits and integrating sustainability into everyday experience.
Beyond its sustainable credentials, the building champions a humanistic functionalism, reshaping the very notion of a workplace. Recognizing the evolving nature of work, the design incorporates a democratic distribution of individual and collective, formal and informal spaces, all within easy reach. By placing amenities such as a rooftop gym and a ground-floor café, ELEMENTAL cultivates an environment where work and well-being are harmoniously intertwined.
