Project: CNI – Portuguese Red Cross
Location: Porto, Portugal
Author: Medd Design
Typology: Interior rehabilitation of a healthcare building
Context
The rehabilitation project for the CNI – Portuguese Red Cross is located in a historic building with a privileged view over the Douro River, next to the Arrábida Bridge in Porto. This space, which was the subject of study and became the first treatment centre for mental illnesses in Portugal —namely Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s— maintains a symbolic and scientific relevance that the intervention sought to respect and enhance.
The requalification focused on the complete renovation of the interiors, aiming to update the building’s functionality and create a more human, efficient, and therapeutic environment aligned with the mission of the Portuguese Red Cross.
Concept
The concept of the intervention was based on three fundamental principles: functionality, comfort, and institutional identity.
The goal was to reinterpret the space with a contemporary architectural language, where natural light, soft textures, and chromatic harmony reinforce the humanitarian character of the institution.
Medd Design transformed the building into a welcoming and stimulating environment, designed to support the clinical and social work of the Portuguese Red Cross and to reflect the organisation’s commitment to mental health and overall wellbeing.
Interior Intervention
Reception and Administrative Areas
Complete refurbishment featuring natural wood furniture, existing granite flooring, and slatted wooden ceilings. The overall composition conveys solidity and closeness, reinforcing the institution’s character and credibility.
Common Areas and Cafeteria
Redesigned spaces that maximise natural light and visual comfort, featuring light wood vinyl flooring, white and blue furniture, and suspended lighting that provides a serene and contemporary atmosphere.
Training Rooms and Multipurpose Areas
Spaces defined by pastel tones (green and yellow), diffuse lighting, and white furniture, creating ideal conditions for learning, sharing, and flexibility of use.
Multisensory Room
Creation of an immersive and therapeutic space designed for the sensory and cognitive stimulation of neurological patients. The environment integrates a bubble column, fibre optics with chromotherapy, and controlled lighting, promoting relaxation, rehabilitation, and emotional balance.
Materials and Finishes
High-resistance technical vinyl flooring with easy maintenance.
Walls finished with washable paint in soft tones.
Furniture and wall panels in natural wood and white lacquer.
Low-consumption LED lighting, calibrated for each functional area.
Sustainability and Comfort
The intervention prioritised durable materials, thermal and acoustic comfort solutions, and energy efficiency.
Natural light was optimised and complemented with low-consumption LED systems, ensuring a balanced, functional, and sustainable environment.
Institutional Identity
The new CNI architecturally embodies the values of the Portuguese Red Cross — humanity, neutrality, and solidarity.
The result is a modern, welcoming, and deeply symbolic space that honours its history as a national reference in the treatment of mental illnesses and reaffirms the institution’s mission to promote dignity and wellbeing for all.