AB+AC Architects has designed the OHL Cultural Space For The Arts in Lisbon, Portugal.

This project takes inspiration from the sacred concept of "shala" – a word that in Sanskrit means "home" – where people commonly gather to practise yoga, learn and grow. Now the shala expands beyond the initial purpose and is reinterpreted in a communal home with one in-house artist residency.

Open Hearts Lisbon (OHL) is an experiential centre for conscious gatherings, holistic learning and co-creation where a dark commercial unit is turned into a space of light that evokes calmness and positive thinking.

The sequence of rooms flows from a public saloon to a convivial zone where the kitchen extends to an intimate patio. In between is a lounge space with diffuse lighting that provides an ideal environment for exhibitions.

Flexibility and adaptability are conveyed into custom solutions such as hidden storage or continuous curtains to create multiple configurations – from dance, yoga and meditation to art events, workshops and screenings.

This project has been longlisted in the civic and cultural interiors category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Designer: AB+AC Architects

Project: OHL Cultural Space for the Arts