PREAMBLE
In the act of the project, the forces defining what exists compete abruptly: Its History, its Memory and its Capacity
of Transformation.
A project for the whole is therefore built from the values which are present:
- A significant heritage legacy, made of shapes, spaces and constructive systems marked in time.
- Its own historic process, legible in the morphology and current state of the building.
- A vision of the future, expressed in the application for the concession of the space.
For such, one needs to find the possible links of a discourse, by carefully articulating the parts into a coherent
whole. One aspires for the reposition of a primary order, from the building foundation, which encompasses
the memory of time that has elapsed and that makes the new usage functionally viable as the trustee of
successive contemporaneities.
HERITAGE AND INTERVENTION PREMISES
The original building holds in itself the expression of an architectonic will of unequivocal interpretation. In spite
of losing its original function as a market, it still makes a statement for a clear interpretation of the time and
history.
It is therefore necessary to state, on the one hand, the desire for the unequivocal restoration of the existing
structure, by cleaning and clarifying small elements added in the meanwhile and on the other hand, operate
on the new proposed areas with an almost objectual logic of occupation, close to that of furniture, and preserving
the potential of the existing constructive and spatial structure.
DEFINITION OF THE PROPOSAL
Based on the existing set, the interventions will always be evaluated on a case by case scenario and decided
with full respect for the historical truth of the set.
Discernment of the type of intervention and degree of its extent will always be subject to dialogue with the
Oporto City Hall and backed by technical reports. In principle, they will be justified in four cases:
a. Need for repair or restoration of elements to be fully maintained;
b. Need for occasional adaptation to meet programming demands;
c. Option to disassemble disqualified and random elements or which have a false historic trait;
d. Construction of the new indoor structures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL
Above anything, the proposal intends to ensure the original image of the Ferreira Borges Market, it being of
heritage value to the city of Oporto. In that sense, a cleaning and restoration operation of the existing structure
is foreseen, with only the annex on the North side being redesigned but, nevertheless, maintaining its current
image which is to say, a markedly pavilion structure annexed to the market and materialized in steel structures
and sheets. The new structures to be created seek, above and beyond a pavilion logic, to make a statement
as “loose” pieces within a space of great poetic potential. In that sense, it is important to preserve angles and
points of interpretation which somehow privilege the possibility of interpreting the original space as a whole.
These three elements, of differentiated characteristics and programmes, will be “placed” on the existing floor,
always marking a lug with a shadow in order to reinforce its ephemeral condition.
THE NUCLEI
In terms of programmes, five essential areas stand out. The Main floor, an empty space left between the new
indoor structures, which will mainly serve as a Foyer, exhibition room, small concerts, poetry reading or other
activities; The outdoor terrace spaces directly linked to the indoor nuclei; The support space laid out in two
storeys, the first being occupied by washroom facilities for the band and the upper floor with a kitchen and
storage as support to the upper terrace; Hall 2, designed for music concerts, theatre, performances, shows
and events. The space also includes a small supporting cafeteria and two shopping areas for the commercialization
of music, music books, architecture, design, fashion and arts, as well as articles related to tourist promotion
in general. An autonomous box-office has also been planned. The structure also holds the sound and image
recording studios, it has a lower height and it will have its covering occupied with an area aimed at an indoor
promenade directly connected with the ground floor and the service structure. Finally, there is the main space
which holds Hall 1 – the large hall for concerts, theatre, performances, presentations or events with a capacity
for approximately one thousand people.
ANNEX ON THE NORTH SIDE
The existing structure on the North side of the market should be rehabilitated and totally redesigned according
to the technical support needs for the whole set, which will make its reconstruction necessary, with two lowceiling storeys. It holds storage and support areas such as washrooms, individual or group dressing-rooms,
storage and archives, areas aimed at air ventilation/ processing equipment and emergency set-up. In other
words, it is fully dedicated to supporting areas. Its articulation ensures direct connections to the stages of the
Main floor, Hall 1, Hall 2 and the recording studios.
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES
The areas to be rehabilitated will use traditional materials and processes according to the situations encountered.
We refer essentially to rehabilitation in terms of painting, glazing, pavement concrete or other existing materials.
The new structures will be “placed” over the rehabilitated structure. They are entirely built from steel structures,
lined with resin sheets and OSB type wooden fibres, on pavements and ceilings. The structural walls will also
be lined with OSB, and anthracite “Viroc” board finishing. This is meant to ensure the uniformity of the materiality
of the new proposed structures, thereby allowing for diversified interpretations in the indoor space of the market,
which is the greater player of the intervention.
Hall 1 will use a global lining of walls and ceilings with “Viroc” boards, according to a strict stereotomy, holding
a series acoustic control devices. Hall 2 will have acoustic panel finishing made of grooved MDF. All these
applied materials will be totally disconnected from the existing structure or pavements and will always be of a
disassembling nature. Obviously, the strict placement of all technical infrastructures will be assured, as well
as compliance of the full legislation in force for this type of building.
Lisbon, 17th November 2008
Francisco Aires Mateus