PwC offices at Palácio Sottomayor, in Lisbon.
Commissioned by banker Cândido Sotto Mayor, the palace was built between 1902 and 1906 to serve as a residence. Set on grounds with a winding garden and several outbuildings, including stables, servants’ quarters and a laundry room. Classified as a Property of Public Interest, it underwent a major renovation project in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, led by architect Gastão da Cunha Ferreira, who preserved the building’s essential elements. The multifunctional project integrated several features: a shopping centre, offices, a hotel and parking.
In 2022, PwC completely renovated the space with the aim of adapting its offices in the building to the challenges of hybrid working. The seven-storey building, covering around 8,000 m², now has an innovative layout designed to promote the comfort and flexibility of its employees.
The project, carried out by Openbook Architecture, was developed based on a concept of collaborative and flexible work, designed for a team of around 1,200 employees who increasingly combine time between home, office and client premises.
Located in the heart of Lisbon, PwC’s new offices incorporate a contemporary approach to the working environment, where the versatility of spaces and user experience were a priority.
The refurbishment of the space also included a focus on common areas, taking into account new office design trends, with a strong focus on employee well-being.
Standardisation and maintenance of plants, by Horto do Campo Grande
Proven symbols of well-being, plants contribute to creating visually more welcoming, harmonious environments in line with current concepts for contemporary, more natural and sustainable workspaces, as Filipa Costa Almeida, head of the Decoration and Interior Maintenance Department, which carried out and maintains this space, points out.
Horto do Campo Grande’s proposal included the renewal of all the plants in the 140 planters in the space. To create greater dynamism, compositions with plants of different species, with different colours, textures and heights were suggested. Species adapted to indoor environments with different types of foliage, such as Monsteras, native to the lush tropical forests of America, Chamaedoras, a tropical plant widely used in interior decoration, with soft, thin leaves, and flowers, such as the elegant Spathiphyllum, commonly known as peace lily — recognised for its air-purifying properties and often associated with harmony and tranquillity — ideal for this type of environment.
To ensure the healthy development of the plants, Horto do Campo Grande offers an indoor maintenance service, which consists of periodic visits by a technician, responsible for all necessary interventions to guarantee the quality and longevity of the solutions implemented.
This service is available on a contract basis, with a fixed monthly fee depending on the area to be cared for. The contract has a minimum duration of one year and includes the replacement of plants whenever necessary.
© Companhia das Cores for Horto do Campo Grande
