Factory Lisbon by Julian Breinersdorfer Architekten + José Baganha + Angela Maurice

An Adaptive Reuse Masterpiece in Lisbon's Innovation District

Factory Lisbon is a striking example of adaptive reuse, led by Julian Breinersdorfer Architekten, José Baganha, and Angela Maurice, in collaboration with Factory’s founder Simon Schaefer. This transformative project reimagines a 1973 military noodle and cookie factory located on the Lisbon harbor front, now at the heart of the emerging Hub Criativo do Beato innovation district.

From Military Past to Creative Future

Originally built to house industrial food machinery, the 200-meter-long and 11-meter-wide structure presented both a spatial challenge and an opportunity. Rather than disrupting the building's slender volume with multiple concrete cores for circulation, the architects devised an ingenious strategy: externalizing all vertical movement. Lightweight steel walkways and single-flight stairs were added along the facades, delicately weaving around historic silos and a newly inserted mirror-clad elevator shaft. These interventions minimize structural impact while enhancing architectural expression.

Interweaving History with Contemporary Design

The project embraces its industrial heritage through a design approach that preserves as much of the original materiality as possible—retaining yellow perforated bricks, damaged marble staircases, and even two original cookie machines. These are set in contrast with contemporary elements like steel cross bracing, glass partitions, wooden interiors, and visible technical systems. The infrastructure is celebrated rather than concealed, echoing the ethos of transparent transformation.

A Multifunctional Urban Platform

Spanning 12,400 square meters, Factory Lisbon now accommodates a diverse range of uses:

• Flexible office spaces for startups and large companies
• Event halls for cultural and professional programming
• A 2,000 m² public rooftop terrace
• Local restaurants integrated into the experience

This programmatic mix reflects a dedication to community engagement. The venue hosts both commercial and nonprofit events spanning technology, food culture, gender, skateboarding, fashion, art, and architecture, ensuring accessibility for both local residents and international visitors.

Sustainability, Structure & Softness

The architects utilized white steel insertions as a recurring visual and structural motif. These interventions—ranging from earthquake-resistant cross braces to mezzanine expansions—are subtle yet precise, enhancing usability while respecting the historic shell. At the same time, greenery and timber elements introduce a non-industrial softness without disrupting the 1970s palette, helping the space resonate with Lisbon's Atlantic light.

Collaborative Design with a Vision

Factory Lisbon is the result of an interdisciplinary and collaborative process, where bold architectural gestures are harmonized with contextual sensitivity. It stands as a model for urban regeneration, combining heritage conservation, contemporary design, and social inclusivity.

All Photographs are works of Francisco Nogueira, Guillaume Bonn, Julian Breinersdorfer