Eduardo Elísio Machado Souto de Moura is an internationally recognized and respected Portuguese architect. Since he started creating, in the late 1970s, until today, he has maintained a coherence, discipline and creativity that are rare and genuine. That is why he was distinguished with the Pritzker Prize in 2011, which places him in the reduced gallery of architects who, according to the definition of the prize, produced “relevant contributions to humanity” with “the art of architecture”.
This property located between Avenida da Liberdade and Praça da Alegria served as a residence for the Keil family until the middle of the 20th century. The most famous member of this family was Alfredo Keil, which name was given to the adjacent garden in Praça da Alegria, and known for being the composer of the melody of the Portuguese anthem “A Portuguesa”. Also, illustrious member of this family was the Architect Francisco Keil do Amaral, grandson of Alfredo Keil.
The building was built in 1846 by Felix Nicolau Caleia. Years later, on July 13, 1886, one of his descendants, Alexandre Caleia sold the building to Hans-Christian Keil, a german who settled in Lisbon as a tailor in the middle of the 19th century. After acquiring the property, Hans-Christian Keil expanded it in 1888. On June 22 he received a city license for the works, being obliged to complete them within a year. After this reconstruction, the building consisted of retail stores on the ground floor, a storehouse above the stores, 3 residential floors, an attic and a garden facing Praça da Alegria. Interestingly, those two dates coincide with the opening of Avenida da Liberdade (1886) and the completion of its layout (1888), where this property was located and witnessed the demolition of the “Passeio Público” Park, marking the end of the romantic era, replaced by the new avenue that brought an entire bourgeois universe.
In 1954, the Keil family sold the property to Companhia de Seguros Ultramarina, later Bonança, and in 2007 it was acquired by EastBanc, which now promotes its rehabilitation, contributing to the requalification of Avenida da Liberdade and Praça da Alegria.
The building was built in 1846 by Felix Nicolau Caleia. Years later, on July 13, 1886, one of his descendants, Alexandre Caleia sold the building to Hans-Christian Keil, a german who settled in Lisbon as a tailor in the middle of the 19th century. After acquiring the property, Hans-Christian Keil expanded it in 1888. On June 22 he received a city license for the works, being obliged to complete them within a year. After this reconstruction, the building consisted of retail stores on the ground floor, a storehouse above the stores, 3 residential floors, an attic and a garden facing Praça da Alegria. Interestingly, those two dates coincide with the opening of Avenida da Liberdade (1886) and the completion of its layout (1888), where this property was located and witnessed the demolition of the “Passeio Público” Park, marking the end of the romantic era, replaced by the new avenue that brought an entire bourgeois universe.
In 1954, the Keil family sold the property to Companhia de Seguros Ultramarina, later Bonança, and in 2007 it was acquired by EastBanc, which now promotes its rehabilitation, contributing to the requalification of Avenida da Liberdade and Praça da Alegria.
