Behind Lisboa Pombalina: survival and change of domestic decorative finishes in a historic ensemble

Lisboa Pombalina in Lisbon, Portugal, is an interesting example of how a historic ensemble’s cultural significance extends beyond the exterior façade of our urban fabric. As with other architectural elements, glazed ceramic tiles, wall paintings, wood and stucco ceilings remain in the domestic interiors of a group of income buildings built after the great earthquake of 1755. They have survived as the palimpsest of over 200 years of use and transformation. Yet, despite national and local conservation protection for these buildings, the interiors are often at risk, hidden behind the façades as rapid and ill-planned adaptions are carried out at these historic dwellings. The pace of these alterations have increased in the last 15 years due to an upsurge in tourism and real estate pressure. This paper delves into possible approaches to address the survival and change of use of these domestic decorative finishes at the historical ensemble scale. Preliminary findings of the ongoing research are illustrated through four selected case studies. They suggest that a broader and coherent perspective on the finishes’ design and materiality in the different spaces is required with an additional focus on the impact of transformation and deterioration over time. It is hoped that the proposed research paths may prove valuable in improving more uniform investigation and conservation practices at the single building level that will protect Lisboa Pombalina’s cultural significance.