Claus Porto – Lisbon Store

Claus Porto, the renowned Portuguese brand crafting artisanal soap and fragrances since 1887, inaugurated its first flagship store in Lisbon in October 2016. Housed at Rua da Misericórdia 135, this space marks a momentous entry into the capital, uniting heritage, sensory immersion, and narrative design.

Studio Astolfi collaborated on this iconic Lisbon space to highlight the brand’s archival legacy. Historic photographs, vintage objects, and original packaging from Claus Porto’s long-standing records form a bespoke, site-specific storytelling installation, anchored in authenticity and memory.

The interior layout consists of two split-level rooms historically connected by a marble staircase. The upper room, formerly a pharmacy, retains original wooden vitrines and ornate stucco ceilings with geometric and botanical reliefs—a rich structural canvas lovingly restored and enriched with new interpretations.

A shining polished brass counter sits at the core of the space, acting as both focal point and circulation anchor, reflecting the antique displays and reinforcing a tactile sense of elegance and continuity.

Between levels, a small chamber serves as a museological niche. Here, curated archival artifacts are exhibited within a brass-and-rosewood cabinet, expressing the brand’s historical depth and craftsmanship.

On the lower level, facing Rua das Gáveas, the ambiance shifts. A refined lounge space combines a barber corner (Musgo Real), a product archive, and a library/lounge area. Thin brass inlays define display niches; beneath them, storage units crafted in reclaimed Riga wood and flexible joinery—featuring hidden washbasins, minibar, or turntable—adapt fluidly to each use zone.

At approximately 85 m², the Lisbon flagship embodies architectural sensitivity to historic context while expressing a modern retail experience. The project carefully honors Claus Porto’s sensory identity—through materials, light, craft, and display—while creating a refined retail environment that feels like an elegant cabinet of memory, smell, and texture