Lisbon's Historic Washhouses: A Cultural Revival Movement

A Nostalgic Journey to Lisbon's Washhouses

“Cold water, from the stream…”. There was a time when Lisbon was known as the “village of white laundry”, as Beatriz Costa sang, with locals flocking to washhouses, carrying buckets filled with clothes for the "washwomen" to rinse them with water, soap, or bleach in exchange for money. These washhouses were not just functional spaces but a ritual of daily life.

Today, most washhouses stand as mere monuments in the city, like the Alto do Pina washhouse in Areeiro. However, this particular washhouse has become a symbol of a contemporary struggle, as a group of Lisbon residents has initiated a petition to restore it.

From Washhouse to Cultural Space

A new trend is emerging in Lisbon: the transformation of these washhouses, which are historical spaces, into cultural venues. The Lumiar washhouse serves as a prime example, hosting the initiative Cinema no Estendal since 2022, an annual festival of short films.

Another notable instance is the Carnide washhouse, which has been transformed into a venue for cultural projects and activities since 2011. Thanks to a partnership between the Carnide Parish Council and the Teatro do Silêncio, it has hosted guided tours, artistic residencies, and exhibitions.

In the Alfama neighborhood, the Alfama Heritage and Community Association has organized fado music sessions in one of the washhouses, while a proposal for a cultural space at the Ajuda washhouse won a participatory budget in 2017, although it has yet to be realized.

From community spaces still used by those without home washing facilities to cultural hubs, these washhouses continue to resist change in the city, serving as a living memory of a bygone era that Lisbon residents are determined to preserve.