Le Chat Bar in Lisbon
Lisbon is fascinating not only for its light and historical architecture, but for its many modern buildings. One of these is the bar by the name of Le Chat – a reference to its location over the roofs of the city, where normally only the cats ever go. Set on top of a housing block dating from the 1920s, on what was formerly a roof terrace, stands a glazed rectangular volume with rounded corners. In contrast to the neighbouring buildings, one of which is the 17th-century National Gallery of Art, the new development seems almost surreal. Illuminated in various colours at night, the edge of the roof and the two core structures – the latter clad over their full height with mirrors – intensify this effect. The concrete cores that support the roof contain sanitary spaces plus a small kitchen and store.
