Belcanto

For Belcanto—Chef José Avillez’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant—we created a space that is calm, sober, elegant, timeless, and deeply intimate.

Located in the heart of Lisbon, Belcanto occupies a historic structure rich with original architectural features: soaring ceilings, vaulted tilework, and stone arches. Our goal was to honor the authenticity of the space by developing a design rooted in neutrality and permeability—two guiding principles behind the project.

Neutrality is expressed through a respectful use of noble materials and a palette of soft, time-worn tones: natural oak, brass, straw, and velvet. The space breathes calmness and subtlety, avoiding excess while highlighting texture and craftsmanship.

Permeability, meanwhile, defines the flow of the interior. Though spatially reorganized to create distinct zones, the restaurant maintains a strong visual continuity, thanks to large iron-framed windows and a gently parted curtain that reveals and connects each area, allowing for a full and coherent perception of the space.

The Chef’s Table offers a theatrical experience. Guests can observe the kitchen in action while seated near a sculptural niche housing a collection of handmade ceramic "fossils"—artistic tributes to the ingredients and tools of Belcanto’s culinary language.

Even the restrooms offer a moody, sensorial moment, where lighting plays a key role in crafting atmosphere. In fact, lighting design is fundamental throughout the restaurant, setting the tone at every table, passageway, and within the kitchen itself.

The Belcanto project extends all the way to the table, where bespoke art pieces were created to elevate the mise-en-place—turning each meal into a refined, multisensory ritual.