Europe’s hippest destination: Lisbon wins Best City in the Wallpaper Design Awards
“Lisbon is Europe’s hippest city right now”. With such assertiveness, Tony Chambers, Editor-in-Chief of Wallpaper, introduces the magazine’s 2017 Design Awards. Lisbon has just been elected Best City at the Wallpaper Design Awards. Every year, the best and the brightest of the creative world are honored by the influential publication. First, the Wallpaper Team puts together different shortlists. Then, an impeccable panel of judges takes the final decision. There are 11 super trendy categories. And Lisbon, voted Best City in the Wallpaper Design Awards, just won the most important prize.
Architecture, culture and more: Lisbon wins Best City at the Wallpaper Design Awards
So, what makes Lisbon so special, to win Best City at the Wallpaper Design Awards? As Wallpaper puts it, Lisbon is on a “cultural and architectural roll” and the city’s programme of regeneration is bearing its fruits. At the center of the fabulous reinvention of the city is MAAT, Lisbon’s Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. Unveiled last October, it’s the city’s new icon. MAAT certainly generated a lot of media attention but there are other valuable reasons that put Lisbon on the limelight. It’s simple. Lisbon was voted Best City at the Wallpaper Design awards because it is truly irresistible. It has a charm of its own, an absolutely unique light, brilliant architecture and a vibrant cultural life. Plus, it is safe, friendly, and has enviable food and wine credentials.
Why the judges voted Lisbon Best City in the Wallpaper Design Awards
The fact that Lisbon was voted Best City at the Wallpaper Design Awards comes as no surprise. It gets even more admirable when we look at the personalities behind the decision. The impressive panel of judges that chose Lisbon Best City at the Wallpaper Design awards includes “starchitect” Amanda Levete and design deities Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. Actress-turned-filmmaker Laetitia Casta, artist Tom Sachs and entrepreneur Ramdane Touhami complete the panel. Amanda Levete must have been a wonderful guide to her peers. The woman behind the MAAT museum, Levete fell in love with the light of Lisbon the moment she arrived here.
Lisbon after winning Best City at the Wallpaper Design Awards
Lisbon was elected Best City in the Wallpaper Design Awards, surpassing other iconic metropolis such as Vienna and San Francisco. For travelers and journalists, Lisbon is definitely the city of the moment. In a recent article published by Forbes, Portugal and its capital are featured as one of the 10 Coolest Places to Go in 2017. According to Forbes, Lisbon has reached its “tipping point” as “one of the most vibrant, good-value, ebullient and attractive cities in Europe.” For Lisbon, proud winner in the Best City category of the Wallpaper Design awards, this is just the beginning. With new luxury hotels opening this year, more Michelin starred restaurants than ever, and an array of new exhibitions and cultural events coming up, Lisbon’s light is here to stay.
