MAPIC Interview: Fidelidade Board Member Miguel Santana and Project Manager Miguel Paiva Couceiro
In the heart of Lisbon, the ambitious Entrecampos development is reshaping not just a neighbourhood but the axis of the Portuguese capital and the big news at MAPIC is that construction has started.
Promoted by Fidelidade Property Europe in partnership with Lisbon City Council, the 330,000 sq m scheme will, when compete, blend offices, residential, green spaces retail and F&B in a single, mixed-use plan that links with one of the city’s major train stations.
Around 4,000 sq m is dedicated to a new food district, positioning restaurants, cafés and bars as the social and commercial heart of the project, according to Fidelidade Board Member Miguel Santana. The masterplan, by architect Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) and Saraiva Associados, has favoured an open-air layout.
“We call it curated high street retail, not a mall, and we are at MAPIC looking to talk to global retailers about the opportunities here now that the scheme is being constructed and there are lots of cranes up in the air,” he said. “We want to have anchors from around the world, mixed with local hero brands.”
Entrecampos
That retail will total around 55 stores and will be there to support a series of office developments, including the new headquarters of the National Bank of Portugal, train and metro travellers and in further phases a residential community. A university is also nearby. The retail and first offices should be ready for fit out in late 2027 and open in 2028.
“The offices are leasing well and achieving prime rents, which supports our aim to rebalance the CBD towards our project and gives us a lot of confidence in the way the market has responded to our vision,” Santana added. “The majority of the retail will be on open streets to make the most of Lisbon’s pleasant climate and we want it to be a real meeting place for workers after they finish in the evening and a weekend spot for people to visit.”
Because of those goals, he also stressed the importance of the food offer within the project and the developers and investor are workings with Nhood and Tomorrow Food as managing agents to establish the right mix of F&B operators to make it the heart of the overall development.
Likewise, Project Manager Miguel Paiva Couceiro added that the company is looking to work with retailers to create unique flagships and store formats that will be specific to the scheme and differentiate it from the mature retail offer in Lisbon.
“We have a smart neighbourhood and into that we want smart retail,” Paiva Couceiro added. “That means a good mix of technology, pop-ups and space for brands to create interesting offers that also make use of the modern, high floor-to-ceiling heights we can provide.”
Also key to the project is sustainability. When complete the area will include around 15,000 sq m of green space within a highly urban area and Entrecampos is also targeting LEED, WELL and WiredScore certifications across the project.
