Soulgarden

Conceived as a contemporary Garden of Eden, Soulgarden transforms the dining experience at Corinthia Lisboa into a lush, immersive sanctuary that defies the predictable tropes of hotel hospitality. The project was born from a desire to bring the outdoors inside, dissolving the boundaries between the exterior landscape and the interior architecture to create a space that feels less like a restaurant and more like a vibrant, living ecosystem. Rather than adhering to a safe, minimal aesthetic, the studio embraced an extraordinary element of fantasy—a design approach that is absolutely excessive, and proud of it.

The transformation acts much like a sophisticated fashion re-branding: respecting the existing essence of the location while injecting it with a riot of colour, texture, and sensory engagement. To achieve this, the spatial organization is defined by a custom-designed succession of modular shelving units that act as the room’s architectural spine. Composed of three distinct elements—a sculptural vase, a functional shelf, and a privacy screen—these units allow the space to breathe and adapt, creating pockets of intimacy that can be adjusted to the specific needs of the client. This layering of vegetation acts as a natural filter, softening the acoustics and the visual lines to produce that rare “unicorn” quality in modern dining: true, enveloping comfort amidst high design.

Contrasting the verdant coolness of the vegetation is the bar, designed to evoke the primal element of fire. This feature piece is clad in custom-made 3D ceramic tiles, developed with a specific glazing reaction that mimics the unpredictable, shimmering nature of flames. It stands as a warm, glowing counterpoint to the greenery, anchoring the room with a display of material craftsmanship that invites touch and captures the light.

The narrative of nature continues even into the private spaces, where the access to the bathrooms has been reimagined as an ever-changing garden. Here, a series of round sinks are connected by a structural framework designed to hold seasonal floral installations. This “living portal” explores the passage of time through botany, ensuring that the atmosphere shifts with the seasons—from the fresh blooms of spring to the deep tones of winter—making Soulgarden a dynamic environment that is never the same experience twice. It is an eclectic mix of art, nature, and architecture, proving that comfort and fantasy can coexist beautifully.