Winner of Honourable Mention in the 2025 WLA Awards – Built Hospitality Landscape Design category
Located on Dom Luís I Street, DUO Hotel emphasizes the seamless integration of natural elements, architecture, and luxury to enhance the guest experience. The courtyard stands as the primary outdoor space, conceived to offer a serene retreat within the bustling urban environment of Lisbon. Designed to celebrate Portugal’s rich, high-quality, and tranquil lifestyle, the courtyard reflects values of local character, simplicity, elegance, and social connection. Local materials, such as limestone (calcario) and hoggin, are combined with greenery to ensure permeable surfaces and ecological design, reinforcing the commitment to sustainability.
The design extends from the welcoming entry plaza to the heart of the courtyard, where carefully placed benches integrated with lush green spots create inviting gestures that encourage people to enter and explore. This functional yet artistic approach offers more than just a place to sit; it introduces visitors to the interplay of natural textures and materials that define the hotel’s outdoor spaces. These inviting elements also provide a glimpse of the serene ambiance that awaits within the courtyard, enhancing the transition from urban hustle to peaceful retreat.
The thoughtful planning of space and furniture contributes significantly to the serene and welcoming atmosphere of the DUO Hotel Lisbon. By blending minimalist elegance with organic green areas, the landscape design establishes a calming environment that enhances both social interaction and individual relaxation. This unique landscape system integrates natural stones locally sourced, ensuring a clear local identity and strengthening the connection between architecture and nature.
Furthermore, the landscape design enhances the hotel experience by creating a harmonious relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, where guests can enjoy moments of relaxation and connection with nature within a sophisticated urban setting. The courtyard and entry plaza together form a cohesive experience that brings a sense of tranquility to the heart of the city.
DUO Hotel
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Landscape Architect: LJ-Group
Image Credits (Plans, Diagrams) : LJ-Group
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio