Perched atop one of Lisbon’s seven hills in the Arroios district, an apartment belonging to gallerist and collector Maria Ana Pimenta exemplifies a blend of Brazilian and Portuguese cultural influences. The fifth-floor flat, offering panoramic views of landmarks such as the Basílica da Estrela and São Jorge Castle and overlooking the Tagus River, is distinguished by the jacaranda trees visible from the bedroom window—a feature that initially drew Pimenta to the property seven years ago.
Having lived in São Paulo, Brazil, Pimenta recalls how a jacaranda tree blooming on her former balcony there provided a rare natural respite amid the city’s urban intensity. Noticing a similar tree outside the Lisbon apartment inspired her and her husband, Martim, to acquire the residence despite its then-neglected condition, which included carpeted floors, low ceilings, and just one bathroom for five bedrooms. The couple renovated extensively, restoring parquet flooring, uncovering high coved ceilings beneath plaster, and reconfiguring the layout to include three bedrooms and three bathrooms, with the aid of an architect friend.
The interior reflects the couple’s transatlantic life, with Brazilian mid-century furniture by Joaquim Tenreiro and Geraldo de Barros positioned alongside works by Portuguese artists. Among these is a hallway installation of asymmetric shelving by José Pedro Croft and a notable early piece by British-Portuguese artist Paula Rego. Pimenta describes Rego, known for her figurative surrealist style and focus on women’s voices, as an important influence.
Pimenta, who is originally from Portugal, serves as partner and international director at Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel (FDAG), a contemporary art gallery with locations in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The gallery, representing 45 artists, promotes Brazilian contemporary art on the global stage. One of its key initiatives is FDAG Comporta, an annual summer event now in its sixth year, set in the Portuguese town of Comporta. This year’s edition, opening this week, centers on ecological themes and features works such as an expansive abstract landscape by Marina Rheingantz, sculpture by Erika Verzutti, and a colorful matchbox assemblage by Antonio Társis.
Pimenta and Martim’s exposure to Brazilian design reshaped their domestic aesthetics, introducing them to mid-century furniture styles characterized by fluid, nature-inspired forms and a seamless integration between indoor and outdoor spaces, as exemplified by figures like Oscar Niemeyer. Although their Lisbon flat has limited outdoor space, the layout capitalizes on city vistas and natural elements, including the jacaranda tree.
The apartment’s decor is characterized by a palette of off-white walls, warm wooden floors, and vivid accents ranging from a burnt-orange velvet sofa to vibrant artworks. Blue tones frequently recur in pieces such as Álvaro Lapa’s abstract expressionist "Alone," a collage by Társis, and a camouflage of painted matchboxes. The living space, shared with their children José, 11, and Antonia, 7, and their golden dachshund Mezcal, is described by Pimenta as a lived-in home designed for comfort, whether hosting large gatherings or enjoying quiet family moments.
Summing up the spirit of the residence, Pimenta quotes Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade’s reflection on the vitality of a lived-in space, noting that a home without the marks of use—such as floor scratches—is one where nobody dances.