The project is located at 8 Marvila, in the former wine cellars of Abel Pereira da Fonseca, in Lisbon—an iconic area of the city where spaces are shaped by the historic cellars.
8 Marvila is now a place where art, culture, commerce, bars, and restaurants converge, offering a true cultural haven for residents and visitors in Lisbon.
A true philosophy of material reuse was embraced in this project, incorporating rubble, wood, iron, and metal sheets, including the old counters from the warehouse. This approach resulted in a temporary, dynamic project that rehabilitates an old industrial space.
Within this space, we were tasked with adapting an old storage area and a small surrounding space into a café, shop, and art gallery. On our first visit, we felt the existing industrial charisma and understood that our interventions should involve the introduction of minimalist solutions. These were to take the form of simple contemporary lines, complemented by a unifying and striking element that would draw attention and spark curiosity in visitors exploring the surrounding spaces. This was achieved through the use of color—in this case, red.
Thus, the project is centered around the concept of the "Unexpected Red." As we traverse the industrial nave, we encounter a space infused with color, evoking a captivating and vibrant atmosphere. Industrial raw materials were utilized, overlaid with a new "vibrant" layer that transforms the area.
To structure the space, a framework with columns was created to define the café areas, providing a sense of refuge within the vast expanse of 8 Marvila.
Inside the art gallery, the raw concrete walls were preserved to maintain the history and an almost raw, cave-like authenticity. This scenic atmosphere highlights the exhibited artworks, making them the focal point of the space.
The introduced elements, such as the stairs, lighting, and furniture, are predominantly reused and designed to align with the existing industrial aesthetic. Finished in black with a minimalist design, they add another layer to the existing framework.
The dark atmosphere, which evokes a sense of discovery for the user, combined with the lighting system, aims to spark curiosity in every corner of the space.