From pasta factory to school: a ´unique project´ in Alcântara

This is the story of an old pasta factory that was transformed into an international school.

Located in Alcântara, an area of Lisbon that is increasingly attracting companies, developers and real estate investors—particularly in the residential segment—the Lisboan International School was born in the iconic buildings of the former pasta factory “A Napolitana”: facilities that were acquired from the Auchan Group, which had offices there.

“I’ve visited many school projects over the years and, for me, this is an absolutely unique project,” said Icelandic-born Gudmundur Jonsson, the school’s headmaster, in an interview with idealista/news. The school opened its doors this academic year.

Let’s break it down: Lisboan International School is the first school in Europe from the Artemis Education Group, originally from Doha (Qatar) and headquartered in the United Kingdom. The group already operates three schools in Qatar and has two more planned in Oman, focusing on developing new educational projects worldwide. This project came to life thanks to an investment of 75 million euros. But the numbers and highlights don’t stop there:

• It occupies a total area of 11,500 square meters (m²), with capacity for over 1,200 students aged three to eighteen;

• The campus includes, for example, science and technology labs (STEM Hub), libraries, art and design rooms, dance, yoga and music studios, and a 170-seat theatre;

• The school offers a British international curriculum, with the International Baccalaureate (IB) being gradually implemented until the full Diploma Programme in 2027;

• Beyond the classroom, students take part in the Lisboan Experience, which includes activities such as robotics, photography, debate, community service, and sports such as rowing, surfing, and climbing;

• Sustainability is a core principle—the campus is an officially certified earthquake shelter.

An Icelander captivated by the charms of Portugal

Gudmundur Jonsson is the headmaster of Lisboan International School. Born in Iceland, he lived in Belgrade (Serbia) before moving with his family to Portugal in March. Smiling, he told idealista/news during a tour of the school that he is enchanted by Lisbon.

“It’s been an incredible experience. We’ve lived in many countries around the world, and I have to say we are falling in love with this beautiful city and this country. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to be the headmaster of a new school housed in such historic buildings.”

“This place here in Alcântara is amazing. I can’t think of many examples where a new international school has been created in the heart of one of Europe’s most glorious cities. I’ve visited many school projects over the years and, for me, this is an absolutely unique project.”

When asked why Lisbon was chosen as the first European project for Artemis Education, he explains that he is not the best person to answer but admits he can speculate on the reasons behind the investment:

“Firstly, the city is spectacular. Secondly, this location here in Alcântara is incredible. I can’t think of many examples where a new international school could be created in the heart of one of Europe’s most glorious cities. I’ve seen many school projects over the years and, for me, this one is absolutely unique. I’m happy that Artemis Education decided to take this step.”

“It’s an extraordinary story”

The story of how this old pasta factory became an international school dates back to 2021, when the project—designed by architect Frederico Valsassina and built by San Jose Construction—was first announced.

“It’s been almost a five-year journey from the initial idea and identifying the project, through the design phase, working with various organisations and companies that rebuilt these historic buildings. It’s an extraordinary story. I’m convinced there’s a book to be written, a film to be made. It’s a story of adventure, resilience, near failure, and then the company managed to rise again and move forward. And here we are, the school is now open,” reflects Jonsson.

“It’s been a journey of almost five years from the initial idea of identifying the project to the design phase, working with several organisations and companies that rebuilt these historic buildings. It’s an extraordinary story. I’m convinced there’s a book to be written, a film to be made. It’s a story of adventure, resilience, near failure, and then the company knew how to recover and move forward.”

The headmaster has no doubt that there were “many challenges along the way,” especially because the buildings that now make up the school “are a historical landmark in Alcântara.”

“That’s why we had to be very careful to ensure we preserved all the original historical features of the buildings. For example, all the original wooden floors have been preserved,” he reveals.

He also highlights the new building constructed from scratch, where the school gymnasium is located:

“We have the original historic buildings of the old ‘A Napolitana’ pasta factory—the canteen, for instance, is housed in the former factory building—but we also have the new building designed by Frederico Valsassina. One of the things I like most about it is that it was conceived in exactly the same style as the historic original building next to it. This was an important point for us—to respect the existing culture and heritage, which is a very important part of our identity.”

An inclusive project attracting investors to Alcântara

Right next to the Lisboan International School, beside the newly built wing, a hotel is under construction. The area has recently seen the arrival of a coworking space, the new CUF Tejo Hospital, and the modern ALLO – Alcântara Lisbon Offices building. Not to mention the well-known LxFactory. At the same time, several residential projects are being developed—or still in planning—throughout Alcântara.

So, what impact will the school have on the real estate market?

Jonsson highlights the role and importance of the school in the healthy growth of children, agreeing that it can serve as an attractive factor—among others—in drawing and retaining people and families in the area.

“We want children to thrive, be happy and flourish at school through learning and the friendships they build. Of course, we already have a large number of families living in Alcântara, but there are also some coming from farther away, such as Cascais and the Expo area. We understand that for those moving to a city like Lisbon with children, choosing a school is one of the most important decisions. So, we know that the school’s location is truly important—not just the school’s vision and values, which, in my view, are the most important thing.”

Inclusion is a core value at the Lisboan International School, which can accommodate over 1,200 students but currently has only around 75. Some of them are Portuguese—about 20% of families.

“In our last count, we had over 20 nationalities represented. There’s been strong interest, for instance, from families from the United States. We’re living in incredible times, full of change and challenges. That’s how people move around. We want to ensure we’re a positive part of that change.”

As a closing message, Jonsson emphasizes how important it is for children to learn more about other cultures, “building friendships with people who speak different languages and have different perspectives.”

“Our hope is that, by learning about these different cultures and perspectives, they come to understand that, at the end of the day, we are all human beings and share much more than what divides us.”

*According to the Spanish newspaper elEconomista, the €75 million investment was backed by the Iberian alternative debt fund Terram Capital, in a transaction that also involved the German-American RFR fund and the banks BPI and Novo Banco.