Jorge Silva – 24 Hours in Lisbon
Because of his work, graphic designer Jorge Silva’s breaks in Lisbon are focussed on the city centre. Normally, the founder of the silva!designers visits the places that inspire his work.
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Jorge Silva was born in Lisbon, in 1958, and specialised in publishing design. With the Combate newspaper (1978-2003) he began a lifelong love affair with the profession of art director. He was art director for O Independente (1991–2000) and created the Y and Mil Folhas colour supplements for the paper Público. He occupied the same position on the magazines 20 Anos, Ícon and LER. In 2001, he founded the silva!designers studio, which is responsible for image of the likes of the São Luiz theatre and the Lisbon City Festivities. He is currently in charge of the art for school books printed by the Leya publishing group. He has a “wonderful” 6-year-old daughter, is a compulsive collector of illustrated Portuguese books and he is in the process of writing a history of Portuguese illustration.
by Manuel Simões
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Tea time
“My day generally starts with a wholemeal croissant in this tea house in the Chiado area, which also has a modern and healthy lunch menu. In the morning, they have great cakes and a new type of light croissants.”
O Chá do Carmo
Largo do Carmo, 21
+351 21 3421 305
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Healthy rounds
“One of the things I often do, and something that is good for my mental health, as well as being one of my hobbies, is visiting antique booksellers. It’s marvellous delving into these places. This bookshop is one of those arched Pombaline caverns where you always find fabulous things.”
Livraria Centro Antiquário do Alecrim
Rua do Alecrim, 40 – 42
+351 21 3420 068
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Rosa da Índia
“A superb and rather curious Indian restaurant in one of Lisbon’s smallest and most remarkable streets. It’s a wonderfully discreet place, located on the first floor of a building, with no sign, and which is the living room of a flat with a kitchen next door. I like food from all over the world and when I travel, I always go to the weirdest of places. I always take a risk.”
Restaurante Caxemira
Rua dos Condes de Monsanto, 4, 1º direito
+351 21 8865 486
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Constant surprise
“This part of Alfama has its fair share of secrets. Next to the Casa dos Bicos there are late 19th-century and early 20th-century buildings with 7 floors. Mixed in with tunnels and alleyways, there are surprising nooks and crannies and parts of the old city walls. A contrast to tourist Alfama, this part is a little more sordid and unusual and a bit of Lisbon that constantly surprises and amazes.”
Alfama Ribeirinha
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Quality time
“A big part of my life has to do with my 6-year-old daughter, Clara. We go out a lot, which helps me rediscover certain places, like the Jardim do Príncipe Real, where there’s a children’s play area. I’d like to go there more often.”
Jardim do Príncipe Real
Príncipe Real
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Triumphant arches
“Once through the main door, suddenly, there’s a huge void with a number of trees pointing towards the open sky. It’s a huge ruined monument that exudes the history of Lisbon. The museum collection isn’t particularly important but it’s like a step back in time with the remains of ancient, medieval and pre-quake Lisbon.”
Museu Arqueológico do Carmo
Largo do Carmo, 92
+351 21 3460 473
www.museuarqueologicodocarmo.pt
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Home from home
“I like its basic character, which makes MUDE a place where I could easily live. I go there regularly and I now see it as a kind of home for designers and an important place for our work. It’s remarkable for the intense schedule of exhibitions and the work of the director, Bárbara Coutinho. Its vocation is product, industrial and fashion design, but it is also beginning to focus on the area of communication design.”
MUDE
Rua Augusta, 24
+351 21 8886 117
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Tango-go
“A charming restaurant that is run by a couple. The menu has a number of sophisticated options, but I almost always go for the Steak à Argentina. For starters, try the fabulous melted goat’s cheese salad. The place, which used to be an old photography shop, is lovely. It’s nearly always full and is right next to my flat.”
Café Buenos Aires
Escadinhas do Duque, 31 B
+351 21 3420 739
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Nocturnal outings
“Largo do Carmo is fantastic at night. It’s really pleasant being there, on those semi-Baroque stone benches, with jacarandas and lime trees above our heads. There’s always something interesting going on, and often you can hear fado and African music.”
Largo do Carmo
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