The landscape design for the DUO Hotel Lisbon, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, is one of the latest projects developed by LJ-Group, showcasing the firm’s ongoing commitment to crafting refined outdoor spaces that merge natural beauty, cultural identity, and contemporary hospitality. Located on Dom Luís I Street, in one of Lisbon’s most dynamic neighborhoods, the project emphasizes a seamless integration between landscape, architecture, and user experience — elevating the hotel’s identity while offering guests and visitors a uniquely calm urban retreat.
At the heart of the project lies the courtyard, conceived as the primary outdoor space and a serene oasis within the city’s lively rhythm. More than just a backdrop, the courtyard celebrates the Portuguese lifestyle — one rooted in quality, simplicity, and conviviality. Through a restrained and elegant design language, it communicates values of local identity, timeless aesthetics, and environmental sensitivity. Materials such as local limestone (calcário) and hoggin were purposefully selected for their cultural relevance, warm tones, and permeability, anchoring the design in a sustainable, climate-resilient foundation. Lush greenery, subtle transitions, and carefully crafted topographies add a soft, ecological dimension to the overall experience.
From the welcoming entry plaza to the tranquil heart of the courtyard, the design establishes a clear spatial narrative. The main bench integrated with the planted area not only serve a functional role but also act as gentle invitation — visual and physical gestures that encourage pause, gathering, and introspection. The landscape speaks in textures and tones rather than excess, using restraint to produce richness. These spaces are not only meant to be seen but felt, offering moments of sensory relief and connection with nature in the midst of a busy urban context.
The project reflects the core values celebrated by the LILA Awards with its ability to deliver a multilayered landscape — one that operates at the intersection of hospitality, ecology, and cultural resonance. The design proves that luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, but can reinforce one another through thoughtful spatial planning and material selection. It also exemplifies how landscape architecture can add narrative and identity to hospitality spaces, transforming them from generic amenities into meaningful, memorable destinations.
Moreover, the DUO Hotel Lisbon demonstrates how landscape can mediate between public and private realms, enriching the guest experience while contributing to the neighborhood’s urban fabric. It offers a compelling model for placemaking in hospitality projects, where design becomes a tool for well-being, engagement, and environmental stewardship.
In an era where cities urgently require human-centered and climate-resilient design, this project distinguishes itself through clarity, elegance, and sensitivity, offering a balanced approach that is both minimalist and rich, local and cosmopolitan.
• All architecture offices involved in the design:
Saraiva + Associados
• Other credits you need or wish to write:
Client: Lace/Feuring
Operator: Hilton
Interior Design: Saraiva + Associados
Photo Credits: Ivo Tavares Studio
