Eduardo González
The Endesa Foundation, Endesa Energía (branch of the company in Portugal) and the Embassy of Spain in Portugal have signed an agreement for the development of the “Artistic exterior lighting project for the residence of the Embassy of Spain in Lisbon”.
The agreement, adopted on November 14, 2024 by the Technical General Secretariat and published this Monday by the Official State Gazette (BOE), indicates that the Spanish Embassy in Portugal considers it appropriate, “among its own purposes”, to develop “a harmonious and advanced project for the exterior artistic lighting of the Residence through the use of new design and lighting technologies that involve non-intrusive, sustainable and energy-efficient technical-artistic actions, which will contribute to enhancing and adding value to the Residence, dignifying and recognizing its historical and cultural value”.
To this end, the Embassy has signed this agreement with the Endesa Foundation, “a non-profit entity with recognized prestige and experience in the field of promotion and support for the lighting of technical-artistic elements”. In addition, the Portuguese branch, Endesa Energía, has “the experience, technical, material and human resources suitable for the execution of the work required by the project”. Endesa Foundation will collaborate with the financing of the Project by providing a single financial contribution of 159,177, VAT included.
When developing the project, “the fundamental values will be respect for the building and the use of efficient light sources that lead to energy savings compared to others with similar characteristics, as well as the use of the advantages offered by new technologies in the field of lighting,” the text continues.
The Embassy Residence is located in the Palácio de Palhavã, whose origins date back to the 16th century, in an “area where other properties of the Portuguese nobility already existed,” indicates Annex 1.
The second Count of Sarzedas, Luis Lobo da Silveira, acquired Palhavã in 1660, demolishing the previous buildings and building a Palace with gardens. It was his son Rodrigo who completed the Palhavã Palace and it was his initiative to build the monumental door on which he placed the family crest. For a century, the Palace enjoyed a period of splendour, “being one of the most notable in Lisbon, as it was the residence of several members of the royal family”.
The Kingdom of Spain bought the Palhavã Palace on 12 March 1918 to establish its Embassy in Portugal. Since 1939, Palhavã has been the residence of the Spanish ambassador, while the offices of the Chancellery were moved to the Mayer palace on Rúa do Salitre. The lighting project will be developed on the main façade of the building, the main courtyard, the garden and the fountains and the forest.
