Historic Convent Repurposed into Beautiful Hotel in Lisbon

The Locke de Santa Joana hotel, set on the site of a 17th-century convent in Lisbon, marries history with modern design, blending architectural features from the past with contemporary touches. The largest property by Locke Hotels, this nine-storey building offers 370 units, including hotel rooms, apartments, and suites, alongside various public spaces.

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American design studio Post Company was entrusted with the design of the guest rooms, while Barcelona-based Lázaro Rosa-Violàn oversaw the public areas. “The hotel was originally a convent built in the 1600s – in designing the rooms, we wanted to marry this rich history with the contemporary culture of Lisbon,” said Post Company partner Jou-Yie Chou. The result is a space that balances clean, minimal interiors with preserved historic features like archways, pillars, and intricate mouldings.

Each suite-style room offers a living area and a burnt orange kitchenette, with the bedroom separated by a glass and wood partition. The interiors are furnished with modern pieces in natural tones, such as mohair and boucle upholstered furniture, which create a contrast with the historic architecture. Local ceramics, textiles, and stone finishes, like Rose Aurora for the washbasins and local limestone for the bathroom floors, bring a distinctly Portuguese feel to the space.

The public spaces, designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violàn, continue the natural, rustic palette of terracotta, yellows, greens, and blues used in the rooms. Ceramics play a central role in the design, from plant-filled terracotta pots to Lisbon’s iconic mosaic tiles adorning walls and tabletops. “When talking about Lisbon, the first thing that comes to mind is the distinctive tiles,” said Rosa-Violàn, who used these elements to complement the rich textures and natural materials throughout the hotel.

This blend of history and modernity extends to the hotel’s courtyard pool, framed by dark wooden decking, creating an inviting, serene space in the heart of Lisbon.

Images are courtesy of Locke Hotels