Alto Lido

Hotel

Built
Funchal
6 583 m²
2018

The project covers the complete alteration and refurbishment of Hotel Alto Lido, on Estrada Monumental in Funchal, in a medium- to high-density tourist area that has been undergoing consistent regeneration. The intervention responds to the need to update the infrastructure and spatial models of hotels built from the 1980s onwards, bringing them into line with what hospitality demands today.

Hotel Alto Lido entrance beneath an angled canopy with a geometric pattern. Detail of the white perforated structure with climbing plants.
Terrace with glass balustrades, steps and a garden beside the white façade.
White hotel volume reflected in the outdoor pool. Hotel balconies seen between the planting and the pool.

Over time, the building had been subject to piecemeal interventions that introduced dysfunction into its internal organisation. The proposal corrects this through a functional reorganisation of the various levels, giving the whole a clearer and more efficient reading. The technical and service areas, mostly on levels -2 and -1, are reorganised in order to free the upper floors for higher-quality use.

Long lobby with a reception desk and groups of light-coloured and blue armchairs.

The communal and leisure spaces, spread across levels 0, 1, 2, 3 and the solarium, are reconfigured in terms of programme, equipment and image, reinforcing both appeal and functionality. In parallel, every guest room is refurbished with updated materials and equipment and a new aesthetic language; it proved possible to create additional rooms without increasing the massing or altering the existing facade.

Dining room with green chairs, hanging plants and a glazed roof. Façade of stacked balconies beside the pool.

The intervention adopts a language aligned with contemporary four-star hospitality standards, favouring an architecture that is clear, balanced and timeless. It places value on the relationship between inside and out, on the fluidity of routes and on the creation of high-quality places to linger, where water, planting and natural light play a structuring role. The project also incorporates improvements aimed at environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, along with the upgrading of the building's external image and the adjacent public space, improving accessibility and routes without altering the planning ratios or parameters in force.

Seating area with dark armchairs and a counter in the background. Double-height lobby with a large pendant lamp and a central sofa. Pool and outdoor walkway illuminated at dusk.