Avenida de Roma in Lisbon is where photographer and stylist Cátia Castel-Branco grew up and through the photoshoot she wanted to pay homage to her home by picking out locations that had a significant meaning to her. “In a globalized world where everything tends to look the same, unique places of timeless beauty stand out and remain true to their origins. They make us feel at home.” Cátia hopes that Lisbon’s culture remains preserved and that it doesn’t become overly gentrified. “Protect what is unique. Support local beauty!
Creative direction, photography and styling
Cátia Castel-Branco
Assisted by Carlos Cristovão
Beauty Antonia Rosa with Clarins
Assisted by Zoé Peres
Hair Josie Georgia at Minds & More
Production assistant Inês Pardo
Model Olga Bezrukova from We Are Models
Words Daniella Teixeira
Special thanks to Grog Pub Sandwich Bar and Galeto Diner
The buildings of Praça de Londres and Avenida EUA are a familiar sight to Cátia that remind her of her beginnings.
Each of the locations represented a different part of her youth, for example, Grog, a gathering spot on avenida de Roma is where she would go to drink Coke and eat cheese and ham toasties during the 70s and 80s, all whilst feeling like a grown up. Galeto is another restaurant that is frequently visited by her, she finds solace by observing those around her and imagining what their lives could be like. Another legendary place for her is ‘Bom Gosto’ a furniture store she would walk by in her childhood. The relief ceramic panels, are an iconic feature that are spread across the city of Lisbon. They remind Cátia of an open museum. The last location picked by Cátia was in the Avenida das Forças Armadas, where several architectural gems can be found. The buildings have a futuristic look to them which helped bring the vision that she had for the photoshoot together. With this very personal editorial Cátia invites us to view the beauty of Lisbon through her eyes.
“Galeto”, one of Lisbon’s iconic diners
Inaugurated in 1966 by six Portuguese. It is one of the few diners in Lisbon that still remains and also one of the most popular restaurants in the Avenidas Novas region, open 20 hours per day.
Cátia about Galeto….
I’m passionate about diners, where one can go at any time, alone or with company. In Lisbon, only one remains: the beautiful Galeto. I frequent it often, finding immense joy in every visit. At that grand counter, I observe people as if watching a film, imagining their stories. Despite the many delicious options on the menu, I always choose the same—menu number 8.
“Grog” sandwich bar
Grog is inspired by British pubs during the 70s, and is not only famous for it’s sandwiches and toasts, but also for their cocktails and smoothies.
Cátia about the “Grog”…
A gathering spot on Av. de Roma, where the best cheese and ham toasties have always drawn people together. When I visited Grog in the 70s and 80s, I couldn’t resist the allure of their unmistakable toasts. The sophisticated decor enveloped me in a sense of importance, and sipping my Coca-Cola, I felt as though I had finally grown up.
Praça de Alvalade relief ceramic panel
The mural featured in the photoshoot is on a 1960’s building by Ruy Jervis d’Athouguia, who was one of the architects that designed the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. However, the actual artist for the mural isn’t known.
Cátia about ceramic murals …
I have always been captivated by the ceramic panels that adorn Lisbon. Inside the Mexicana tea room in London Square and outside near the café. Also in Alvalade, along the Av. EUA, it feels like an open museum, a mosaic of art woven into the city.
Av. De Roma & Av. Das Forças Armadas
On Avenida De Roma there is an iconic furniture store ‘Bom Gosto’, which opened in 1950.
Cátia about the “Bom Gosto”….
As a child, I walked past this store almost every day, nestled near the iconic Café Roma and the enchanting London Cinema. This area held countless stories, weaving memories of my youth.
Cátia about modernist architecture…
Av. of the Armed Forces holds several architectural gems. Among them, this building has always intrigued me with its futuristic allure, standing as a testament to visionary design amidst the everyday.
Crossing of Av. de Roma and Av. Estados Unidos da América
Avenida da Roma, initially planned as Avenida nº 19 in the late 1920s, was named after the Italian capital in 1930. This naming was part of the Estado Novo’s nationalism, which outwardly embraced European ideas and values to give the appearance of formal openness to the world. Nearby, this practice continued with streets and squares named after other European capitals, such as London, Madrid, Paris, and the United States of America. In the background we see the América Building, designed by architect Leonardo Rey Colaço de Castro Freire, who was also the architect of the famous Ritz in Lisbon.
Praça de Londres
Praça de Londres was designed in 1938 by the architect and urban planner João Faria da Costa, and many of the buildings in that area are examples of the “The Português Suave Architectural Style” in 1940s Lisbon.
Cátia about the buildings in Praça de Londres and in Av. EUA…
When I was little, our family car trips would often end with me half asleep in the back seat, nestled beside my brother. As my eyes fluttered open and I glimpsed the tops of those familiar buildings, a sense of warmth washed over me—I knew I was finally home.
Layout Eline Simon and Maxime Pereira
Interning with ZOOT from ESDM Diderot Marseille
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