Raw Culture Bairro Alto

IT’S THE ART (that makes them special).

RAW has one of the most significant Art Collections in the country, which has one particular feature: it can be seen.

Throughout our spaces, public and private (the Loft you’re staying in), you can see up close the amazing pieces we have collected over the years.

The idea that ART is part of the very heart of RAW, and the idea to showcase talent, are probably our best features.

Our Design reflects that.

So here’s to all our clients who have come and gone, and returned, to a place they now call home.

Here’s to them, and to all those who walk through Lisbon like it’s their city too.

HOME (how your room can turn into something which makes you immediately at ease).

Lisbon is well known for being able to put people (new or returning visitors) immediately relaxed.

That slow pace of different neighbourhoods which look like small villages is what makes you feel home (you’ll never get that in Paris). 

At RAW we tried very hard to mimic that same comfort and warmth, by designing Lofts which have an innate feeling of “cocoon”, with full autonomy and individual, singular design.

Big rooms are hard to find in the big cities, and RAW knew that when we planned Lofts where space meant freedom to move, dance and even watch a good movie.

Freedom is vital at RAW, as that’s where our creative spirit lies (althoug we do like to kick ass on our Norton and Yamaha Bikes).

Welcome to Lisbon, welcome to RAW.

CHECKING-IN (when great Design makes a difference).
Once you’re in your Loft and ready to go up and down in Lisbon’s hills (be ready to walk a lot), it’s important to feel welcomed and at home.
The city has a particular and singular magic which translates the same point of view which we have at RAW. The surprise and unexpected, the original, the secret hidden spots and angles (and good coffee everywhere).
In a way, the design of our Lofts reflects Lisbon’s way to stay relevant and exciting, and unpredictable. The fact is that you travel to find something which still makes you feel excited, motivated and open.
A small Hotel with a Team which knows you by name makes a difference.
Home is where the heart is. This is ours.

Welcome to Lisbon, where memories tend to linger. Welcome to RAW.

RELAX (from easy breezy Check-In to one of our Lofts).

Arriving early or late into a new city and Hotel usually means that you have to adapt fast to a new culture, pace and a new way to live and experience things.
Travel nowadays might be easier as everyone seems to have jumped on the bandwagon of city short-breaks and monthly holidays, but that feeling of being somewhere strange for the first time is still the same.
That’s why Hotel Rooms can make a difference by making you feel at home, immediately.
Each Loft at RAW has that personal touch which makes a difference. That’s called being proud of making sure everyone feels that this is a place to come back to.
If Lofts, and Hotels, can leave that kind of memory and imprint, we must be doing something right.

Welcome to Lisbon, where memories tend to linger. Welcome to RAW.

SPECIAL PEOPLE (who play a bit of magic, and music, in their Lofts).

When our friend Peter Milton Walsh came to visit us for the first time a few months ago, the idea was to make him feel at home (and it took him and Kate a long time to get here from Australia, although the pit stop in France helped).

Having talented people with us, who have something singular to tell, and who have lived to tell, is something we hold dear at RAW. Talent, in every way or expression, is part of our DNA.

So having Peter and Kate with us for a few nights meant that we could see each other after weeks of planning and exchanging messages, and that he could finally do the magic with his voice and guitar. 

These memories are part of this Loft, and part of RAW. 

So here’s to memories that last, and the people who make them.

HOTEL, GALLERY, BAR (3 in 1).

Not many Hotels in Europe can claim to have both heritage roots (our building is more than a century old), and futuristic design.

That combination, and dialogue, between an old Typography which gained a new lease as a design destination, and dear old Bairro Alto, is quite unique. 

All the Lofts have that balance, and the Gallery showcases that same principle of putting things together in a truly singular way (queue to a few Nortons and Yamahas being next to Wasted Ritas and chairs from the former DDR). 

The Bar also reflects that tone of both full bloom energy and casual relax.

When was the last time you could sit down with a drink in an Art Gallery and you could actually hear what the other people were saying?

Welcome to Lisbon. Welcome to RAW (and welcome to the new paintings by our friend AFONSOUL on the walls).

MOVERS & SHAKERS (why every Loft has something to remember).

As Winter holds on to Lisbon (although it seems like full Spring), the days are still short on that light that makes the city famous and revered. That light, once it hits RAW’s windows from both Rua do Norte and Rua das Gáveas bang in the middle of Bairro Alto, shines bright and puts the Design and Architecture of the building in perspective.

When our founder thought of the project and Pedra Líquida made it happen, the idea to transform an old Typography, abandoned and dusty, and plainly left to decay, and turn it into Lisbon’s most singular Hotel seemed hard to believe. 

In a way, each Loft is a testimony to that tenacity. If you see it, you build it.

Every room is different, as the city’s neighbourhoods themselves. 

The difference is, always, in the details. 

Welcome to Lisbon. Welcome to RAW.

CHECKING-IN.
Every Loft at RAW has a couple of tailor-made design details which makes it different from one another, and from the usual accommodation you can find in Lisbon.
In a way, they are a reflection of the city itself, diverse, eclectic and unexpected.
If you can find magic and singularity while walking around each hill, garden and square, and surprises around each corner and steep street, you should also find that same pattern once you check-in at RAW.
As that feeling of discovery and anticipation precedes any visit to a new place, it should also translate into finding a room which pushes that challenge further.
That’s what we aim for at every Loft: a step further into making you feel immediately at home. Some call it smooth, we call it a welcoming, warm touch.
Welcome to a new concept and experience.
Welcome to RAW.

HOTEL/GALLERY/BAR (and how we do things at RAW).
Not many places can claim to be somewhere which some call home for days, weeks or months, a place where Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Design can be shown and enjoyed, and a place where the Barmen know the difference between a Margarita and a Pisco Sour.
That multidisciplinary approach, of giving space to so many different people and projects, is the DNA of RAW.
As a Hotel with awarding winning Architecture and Design features, we thought that what you see in your Loft could also translate into the public areas.

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS (why every Loft has a life of its own).

Designing rooms at a Hotel is a tough challenge. Most things and ideas tend to be the same, and look the same.

The lack of an individual perspective is usually blamed on the fact that everything needs to fit a general perception of taste, and of what works better.

At RAW the principle was exactly the opposite: to give people something different, and something unexpected. That element of surprise, constant change and going the extra step, is made possible because the decor of every Loft also evolves around time. Chairs and paintings move around, photos change place, a néon pops up. But nothing changes the fact that they were made to be and feel immediately your own. 

That’s freedom of thought, and also of creativity, and we’re very happy about that.

Make it your own, make it special, make it a memory to share.

SPACE (and why everything fits at RAW).
Both spaces at the Hotel (Gallery and Rooms) share many details together. One of the most original and singular one is the fact that our owner’s private Art Collection can be found in each Loft, and each public space.
That feeling of sharing, and of making it available to anyone, is something which we hold dear at RAW.
Space is and must be open, and free to roam. Comfort is key, and that is why every Architecture and Design feature was made to be enjoyed while sharing something (for some it’s a drink, others a good book, and for others it’s cake).
The only thing we don’t share are the bikes.
Because something tells us no Harley or Norton, or a dusty Yamaha, would find its way back home without a few scratches.

ROOMS (and why good Design matters).
Once all our Lofts were up and running, it was time for each one of them to get the personal touches, and individual style, which would fill them with a singular character and personality.
By mixing the elements of our owner’s private Art Collection, with Paintings, Photos and Neon Features which we mixed with furniture which we had found all around Europe, we reached the point where things matter the most: beds.
Because RAW is all about easy comfort, we couldn’t forget what matters the most.
Design only matters when you put people first.
And that’s what we’ve been doing since the start.

Happy New Year to all our RAW Friends.
May it be exciting and on the roads less travelled. And may it be full of memories we can share together.

There are special moments when everyone comes together to celebrate something that has a meaning, and that matters.
At RAW these types of events happen every week, and as the place fills with people, and everyone feels the space in a different way, we realize something important: although space gives you the opportunity to stage something, without anyone to see it, or feel it, space is just that, an open field.
So here’s to all those who fill the spaces with warmth, laughter, energy and joy.
Happy Holidays from all of us at RAW.
May you still feel the energy to pick up your Harley and Norton after that extra slice of cake.

RAW RIDER.
Many people have great ideas that never translate into something practical. Many dream of doing something unique and then end up doing something like everyone else.
To be an original is to not fear taking risks, and not caring for what others think of you, and what you’re doing.
Following your own road and path, even if you have to build it yourself.
That gut instinct and test and trial attitude is what made RAW what it is today.
As a personal project of our founder José Oliveira, it shares the same untamed and singular spirit, but mostly his hard working ethics. Keep trying until you get it right.
You see, riding wild is not that difficult as a maverick. But riding wild for decades and still being top of the league is something else.
That’s what some call endurance, and we call freedom of thought.

RAW Culture Bairro Alto.
It takes guts to be an original, but it pays off.
Photo by the great Manuel Portugal.

MAKING IT HAPPEN.
Events and gatherings take time to be planned, and then to be made into something that makes a difference.
Doing something unique and singular, and original, may sound simple and easy to put into practice, but it can cause havoc at a fully operational Hotel and Gallery where rooms need to be cleaned, breakfasts served, and Check-Ins and Check-Outs done on a daily basis.
The secret for RAW’s ability to organize something special almost every day is the people behind each project.
You see, projects can be interesting in themselves, but without someone to make it happen they’re mere references, happenings.
We like to call ours a meeting of sorts (with and by talented people). Talent first. Always.

When we met AFONSOUL at an Opening at the Gallery, we saw something in him which clicked.

After a few stints and projects in Barcelona and Berlin, he had settled down in Lisbon and was looking for a new project to showcase his work, this time not on big buildings or streets, but on smaller canvas.

But we also saw something that mattered the most: curiosity (and a twinkle in the eye).

In a few weeks we were already discussing about doing something together, and something that would last.

And true to form, we’re quick to act at RAW.

From sketch to plan, and then to installation, the trip was smooth and joyful.

The kid from Santos is now across the Atlantic in Lisbon. What a ride. We guess that’s what people call a good story.

A BIGGER SPLASH by AFONSOUL is at RAW.

Curated by João Vilela Geraldo.

Everyone has a story to tell. This is his.

Photo by

TOGETHE(R).

Putting a lot of people in the same place at the same time can be quite tricky.

Busy agendas need to be sorted out, meetings confirmed, and timetables set.

But when friendship is involved, and when someone truly wants to share something special with someone special, things get easier (and faster).

Our dear friend Roberta Ristow is a symbol of that. From the moment she stepped in she was already part of the Team that makes RAW something unique.

Every single time we share some projects with her makes RAW stand out. Mainly because she does it with heart and sould, and also with joy.

Here’s to all those we meet along the way. 

They’re here for the long run.

The R in BA(R) and in RAW.

When lights dim and the last drops of sunset bliss come down the streets of Bairro Alto, RAW becomes a beehive of activity. 

Hotel guests start getting ready for a night out, visitors stop by to see what we have at the Gallery, and friends make plans for a drink at the Bar.

Having a space which triples in many forms (Hotel, Gallery and Bar) has its perks, and challenges. To create unique experiences which can be lived together, or apart.

The fact that RAW is a creative hub is testimony to that: being open to all those who make a difference, by doing something different, and unique.

Being an original is a challenge, as you have to stay put and updated. That’s what we love at RAW. It’s a work in progress, and we’re proud of that.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION.

Creativity, and what you can do with others who share the same spirit of making things happen, is part of the DNA of RAW. 

Where others devise complex strategies and plans, we tend to follow our instinct and gut feeling. What feels right. Simple as that.

Every gathering, meeting or event we do and host is made of a dialogue between different parts, and it’s always the people who define the space, never the way around. 

Maybe that’s why RAW is much more than a Hotel, Gallery and Bar. It’s the way we mix and match, what others call cocktails and we call memories.

READY. SET. GO.
What a night. What a wonderful gathering of friends who came to celebrate something new and exciting, and someone they had not still met.
The beauty of creating an Exhibition is that we don’t know how it starts, but we know that tomorrow is just another day. We move forward, we move one.
To see AFONSOUL painting hard every single day of the last three months was to witness something being created, and imagined.
We had an idea of how it would look, but no one ever knows how it will look like once it’s done.
The world, and life, is full of surprises. This is one of them.

A BIGGER SPLASH by AFONSOUL is now at RAW.
Curated by João Vilela Geraldo.
And yeah AFONSOUL, you can now sleep a bit more quietly.

PREMIÈRE.
After many months of planning, many talks and exchanges of ideas and concepts, a few technical issues and many more doubts that turn into something certain, there comes the time to start something new.
Every opening is different, every night is tender in its own way.
But to make them special, as they should, we trust in something that makes all the difference: the RAW Family.
Those who were there from the start, and those who have followed. All those who have stayed, and the many more who will drop for the first time.
Every story has a beginning, this is AFONSOUL’s ignition and start.
There will be many more to come, and we will be here with, and for him. Family, quite underrated nowadays, is essential for us.
Those you choose, those who matter.

A BIGGER SPLASH by AFONSOUL is opening this Wednesday at 19.00 PM at RAW.
Curated by João Vilela Geraldo.

All welcome.

KEEPING IT RAW (and fun).

Nowadays everyone seems to have the key, or secret, to make something work, and shine bright like a diamond for a few months. Projects become a hit and trendy for a few months, the talk of town, and the place to be.

The problem with hype has to do with time, which is a great sculptor.

You might be hip for a while, but then something else comes up. You then become a thing of the past.

At RAW we never wanted to be next big thing, or to be fashionable.

As we still believe that space must match the people who make it, we’re here for the long run, and making the best of it.

Maybe that’s what some call a classic (although we kick-ass). 

Frequencies by Jean-Marc Larhantec is still at RAW. Curated by João Vilela Geraldo, Roberta Ristow and Manu Jayr. 

Still creating waves over freshly baked croissants (or the odd madeleine).

And counting on it for the next years.

TEAM Players.
During times when most people talk and know very little, and when a light BRO Culture is installed, it takes someone special to do something singular that lasts. At RAW we were always keen to meet and work with people who give us ideas and projects, and new directions to go, and that also push us to move forward.
Partners in action, and in believing that it’s truly important to share knowledge and experience.
Simple as that.
Here’s to all those who make something happen, somehow, somewhere.
We’re fortunate to be on the roads less travelled with them.

A BIGGER SPLASH.
AFONSOUL at RAW.

Tudo tem um princípio, e a cada início surge a dúvida, a questão, o problema. Como fazer algo distinto, surpreendente, único, singular. Que não se repita, que não seja igual a nada, que crie algo a que se chama original.
Este processo, a que todos chamamos criatividade, tem também um meio, e terá um fim, o que como obra, tinta fresca, spray e textura alguns chamam apresentação.
Tudo tem um princípio, este desenhou-se primeiro em Santos, do outro lado do Atlântico, olhando o horizonte, essa dúvida, esse problema, essa questão por resolver. Falta pouco para que do outro lado, em Lisboa, esse meio chegue ao fim, ao que hoje chamamos exposição.

A BIGGER SPLASH by AFONSOUL will soon be at RAW Culture Bairro Alto.
Vernissage no dia 15 de Novembro.
Falta pouco, outro início, outro lado, outro eu.
All welcomed.

PARTNERS.

Over the last couple of years we have met hundreds of creative people who became part of our ideas and projects, and who made it possible for us to move forward in different directions.

Most of them became great friends and part of the RAW family.

Sometimes someone comes along that understands the vision we have for both Gallery and Hotel, and also has the same spirit of making things happen, fast and effectively.

You see, a lot of people have great ideas that never leave their heads or drawers/cupboards. 

The difficulty is therefore putting them into action. A translation of sorts.

Test and trial. Test and trial.

Our dear friend Roberta Ristow is just that (add up an international curatorial experience, a bit of Vogue pizzazz and the fact that she always smells great, and you have a winner).

RAW partnerships, made to last.

TALKING ABOUT A (R)EVOLUTION.
After a Première or any kind of event or brand activation we do at RAW, after a meeting or lunch, a photoshoot or a movie screening, things get back to what we like to call normal.
Lights dim, guests relax, wine glasses and cocktails exchange hands and sofas become a sweet spot.
Running a Hotel is complex with all the logistics involved, and running a Hotel with an Art Gallery and Bar triples that.
As we never run away from challenges, this is actually what we love to do.
Nothing we transform at RAW is lost in translation. Everything we do is made with one single priority: that it can be shared with someone.
Simple as that. That’s what some call producing long lasting memories.

Photo by our dear friend Egle Tenikyte.

TALKING ABOUT A (R)EVOLUTION.

After a Première or any kind of event or brand activation we do at RAW, after a meeting or lunch, a photoshoot or a movie screening, things get back to what we like to call normal.

Lights dim, guests relax, wine glasses and cocktails exchange hands and sofas become a sweet spot.

Running a Hotel is complex with all the logistics involved, and running a Hotel with an Art Gallery and Bar triples that.

As we never run away from challenges, this is actually what we love to do.

Nothing we transform at RAW is lost in translation. Everything we do is made with one single priority: that it can be shared with someone.

Simple as that. That’s what some call producing long lasting memories. 

Photo by our dear friend Egle Tenikyte.