The Convent Square Hotel Vignette Collection was born from the rehabilitation of the Convent of São Domingos, built in 1242 by order of King Sancho II, located next to Rossio Square in the heart of Lisbon. The 121-room hotel was built around the original cloister and celebrates the city’s historical and cultural heritage, preserving the site’s authenticity and Dominican legacy. The project, designed by architect Marcelo Azevedo (GRCA) with engineering by A400, returned an eight-century-old building to the city, flanked by the Church of São Domingos, the site of coronations, royal baptisms, and landmark events in Lisbon’s history.
The structural intervention was particularly complex, combining the rehabilitation of a listed building with the construction of a new reinforced concrete structure, interconnected by the cloister. The solution had to overcome topographical and heritage challenges, ensuring the stability and integrity of the pre-existing structures. A highlight was the execution of a basement beneath the existing building, which required the partial suspension of historical walls to allow for their preservation during construction.
