20/09/2002 - Lisbon’s glorious Condes Cinema to become the latest Hard Rock Café. Built in 1949 by Roaul Tojal, only the original facade will remain intact

Lisbon Town Council granted permission for the historical Cinema Condes to be converted into a Hard Rock Café. The commission welcomed the project presented by architectural team Rafael Gaspar and Souto Moura’s saying “it allows us to maintain the memory of this building” and “develop it with a new business enterprise that will attract the citizens of Lisbon and bring new life to the neighbourhood.” The Condes is situated on one of the Portuguese capital’s most famous streets, the Avenida da Libertade, and was built in 1949 by Roaul Tojal. The renovation work will maintain the original facade although the building itself will be gutted.
Last March, Bragaparques, who own the Condes, began demolishing the inside of the building, but work was stopped by order of Institute for the preservation of Lisbon’s Architectural Heritage which had not received prior consultation.

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