Cicioso Boutique Hotel: Documentary on Architecture and Hospitality in Évora

MJARC Arquitetos recently released a documentary dedicated to the Cicioso Boutique Hotel in Évora, continuing an audiovisual series that aims to reveal some of the most significant projects in the studio’s journey.

Following the Douro Wood House, the first video in this series, the Cicioso Boutique Hotel emerges as the second chapter of a narrative that seeks to go beyond the final image of the building.

Rather than just presenting completed works, this series aims to share the thinking, the decisions, and the principles that give rise to every project by MJARC Arquitetos.

These projects are chosen for their innovative character, their distinct relationship with the site, and the way they represent the very best of what the studio strives to develop: an architecture attentive to context, rigorous in its choices, and deeply connected to the human experience.

Project Details

A series about how MJARC Arquitetos approaches architecture

Over the past few years, MJARC Arquitetos has developed projects that vary in scale, program, and context—from private to collective housing, from hospitality to urban rehabilitation, and from multi-family residential buildings to healthcare facilities—always paying close attention to landscape integration and maintaining a commitment to preserving and respecting existing natural resources.

This documentary series stems from the studio’s desire to open up its design process and reveal not just the final result, but also the reading of the site, the architectural decisions, and the core values that guide each intervention.

The Douro Wood House inaugurated this series with a reflection on how architecture can bring people closer to nature. The Cicioso Boutique Hotel now stands as a new chapter in this exploration, shifting the focus toward memory, materials, and rehabilitation.

More than a physical transformation, this project represents a deep reflection on the continuity of places and on architecture’s capacity to create new experiences without erasing existing identity.

Cicioso Boutique Hotel: a new life in Évora

Located in the historic center of Évora, the Cicioso Boutique Hotel is born from the transformation of a building with an elegant and quiet presence in the city.

From the very first visit to the property, the team at MJARC Arquitetos understood that the intervention should not impose a new narrative. The challenge lay in reading what was already there: the structure, the vaulted ceilings, the wood, the stone, the arches, the light, and the atmosphere of a house deeply rooted in its location.

Transforming it into a boutique hotel required a careful reorganization of spaces, ensuring comfort, functionality, and fluidity without compromising the authenticity of the original construction.

More than creating a hotel, the project’s goal was to provide continuity to a home, allowing its history to keep being written through new uses and experiences.

Material, identity, and continuity in rehabilitation

In a rehabilitation project like the Cicioso Boutique Hotel, every material choice carries a distinct responsibility.

The selection of materials and the appreciation of the work of local artisans were fundamental to ensuring that the new layers introduced to the building could dialogue with its existing identity.

Preserving does not mean freezing the building in time, but rather allowing it to continue to exist with dignity, fully prepared for new uses and new stories.

Watch the documentary

Guided by the commentary of Architect Maria João Andrade, partner and co-founder of MJARC Arquitetos, the documentary reveals the creative process behind this intervention—from the initial reading of the building to the decisions that allowed its identity to be preserved while preparing it for a new life as a contemporary hospitality space.

You can also watch the documentary and find extra content on our Instagram profile!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who designed the Cicioso Boutique Hotel?

The project was designed by MJARC Arquitetos, a studio led by Architect Maria João Andrade, its partner and co-founder.

Where is the Cicioso Boutique Hotel located?

In the historic center of Évora, Portugal.

What is the MJARC Arquitetos documentary series?

An audiovisual series that follows the creative process behind the studio’s projects, showcasing the reading of the site, the architectural decisions, and the values that guide them.

Where can I watch the documentary?

On MJARC Arquitetos’ YouTube channel, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.