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Lago Alfredo Keil

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The rehabilitation of the lake in Alfredo Keil Garden, at Praça da Alegria, stemmed from the need to recover a central feature of a historic romantic-style garden with strong heritage, landscape and civic value in central Lisbon. COLUNA supported the process through Integrated Design services, developing the execution-stage project for the rehabilitation of the lake, the restoration of the fountain and the discreet integration of the technical support infrastructure, with the aim of restoring watertightness, material coherence and public-use quality to this historic public realm ensemble.

Location Lisbon, Portugal
Assets Type Public Realm & Heritage
Customer Profiles Public Entity
Services Design Management, Integrated Design
Type of Interventions Refurbishment
Gross Area < 200 sq m
Investment EUR 50,000
Start / Completion Year 2022
Current Status Not built

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Key Challenges
and Solutions Adopted

The lake sits at the centre of Alfredo Keil Garden, organising the reading of an intimate landscaped space defined by organic planting beds, limestone paving, garden benches and established vegetation. The intervention required an approach capable of respecting the historical and landscape value of the ensemble while addressing the technical demands of rehabilitation.
The proposal was oriented towards resolving the pathologies identified in the lake, including the closure of fish refuges with cyclopean concrete, the execution of a new base slab and the application of appropriate waterproofing solutions. These measures were intended to improve the tank’s watertightness and stabilise its hydraulic performance.
The intervention included the treatment of the existing stone around the lake, with cleaning, water-repellent protection and repointing using suitable mortars, as well as the restoration of the central cast-iron fountain element. This dimension was essential to reinforce the durability and material legibility of the ensemble.
To support the operation of the lake, a new buried reinforced-concrete chamber was designed to house the pumping equipment, with a recessed access cover finished in limestone sett paving matching the surrounding area. This solution accommodated the required infrastructure without compromising the reading of the public space or the material continuity of the garden.

Services provided

As part of the Integrated Design scope, COLUNA developed the execution-stage project for the rehabilitation of the lake, integrating architecture, conservation and restoration, waterproofing, fountain recovery and technical support infrastructure. This work responded simultaneously to the existing defects, the need to renew the system’s functional performance and the overall enhancement of a historic garden feature. Outcome: an integrated technical solution for the functional, material and landscape recovery of the ensemble, prepared to support a future public works tender.

Results /
Impact for the Client

  • Technically structured strategy for the rehabilitation of a heritage element within Lisbon’s public realm
  • Expected improvement in the lake’s watertightness and hydraulic performance
  • Material recovery of the tank and the central fountain
  • Discreet integration of the technical infrastructure required for the system’s operation
  • Stronger technical preparation of the scheme for future public tendering

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