Corten box floats over rural Portuguese landscape

Felgueiras, Portugal

The following description is courtesy of MMV Arquitectos.

Can an architectural contemporary volume be a good neighbor to rural surrounding?

This request had everything to be straightforward. We were to do a remodeling and amplification project of a restaurant. It looked like a simple thing to do (and quite a secondary one, regarding our other assignments), but in short time two aspects came to surface that would rapidly change our thoughts. One was the fact that we had to work upon an existing, contemporary project in the first stage of its construction, and the other one, relates with the location. Felgueiras rural milieu
is typified by a mixture of traditional old housing amongst agricultural fields and small backyards. So, it became a challenge that would require a very well thought-off alteration, a sensitive landscape integration, and a general concept approach that would provide meaning to it all.

The client’s main intention was for his business to turn a well-known space for relevant events in site and surroundings. Having this important principle in mind, we reinforced its outstanding position in the terrain giving even more expression to the rectangular original volumes. This basic assumption alone was very positive for it brought more flow to the creative process. Light entries, footbridges and exterior arrangements managed to maintain the geometrical purism and contrasting personality but did it in dialog with natural matter.

However, the main charismatic element, to which we refer to as landscape-ceiling, lies in the main events area. All the space creation is based upon a suspended element made of flexible metallic knit. This thin transparent net represents the wind, its fluxes and intensities, bringing dynamics to a very wide, dull ceiling. It became the ex-libris for being so artistic and unique, but at the same
time, neutral enough to serve all purposes.

The accesses by corridors and stairs are somewhat extensive as well, so we opted to give it balance through rhythm and alignment, either horizontally or vertically, using construction solutions or coatings, sometimes only ending outside in the exterior gardens.

We are absolutely convinced that this new space has everything to play an outstanding role to all it will host in the future, without losing its boldness and timelessness, and therefore representing a success to the construction owner.

Getting to an unrepeatable and singular architecture, is to accept the restlessness each project brings in the search for a specific result and not only a solution. In many ways matter was this assignment’s main inspiration and the landscape ceiling (or suspended matter) that very same specific result.

Project Details

• Location: Felgueiras, Oporto, Portugal
• Client: Columbinos Restaurant
• Program: Event Space
• Indoor Area: 670 m2
• Outdoor Area: 6100 m2
• Date: 2020
• Architect: Miguel Marques Venâncio . MMVARQUITECTOS
• Collaborators:
  • N. Zakrzewska (project, digital images)
  • I. Feio (digital images)
  • P. Bartkowska (drawings)
  • Photograpy © Ricardo Oliveira Alves