Coffee Shop + Shading Surface / ateliermob

shading surface © Joao Morgado

Architects: ateliermob
Location : Sacavém, Portugal
Developer: Loures City Hall
Master Plan Architects: CMLoures
Master Plan Construction: Alfaro Martins
Master Plan Project: Ana Lúcia Abreu
Construction: Tiago Mota Saraiva, Nuno Carvalho, Andreia Salavessa, Raquel Capelo with Carolina Condeço, Nuno Ferreira and Vera João
Project: Tiago Mota Saraiva, Nuno Carvalho, João Ribeiro, João Ferrão with Sónia Oliveira
Engineering: Pereira Pinto, structure; Grade Ribeiro, hydraulics; Campos Carvalho, installations
Contractor: Abrantina/Grupo Lena
Construction Supervision : TPF Planege
Project year: 2009
Photographs: Joao Morgado

This intervention is part of an urban requalification plan for one avenue at Sacavém, on the outskirts of Lisbon, promoted by Loures City Hall. Our project held three interventions, but only two were completed. The proposed buildings had the common goal of playing the decisive role at the qualification of public spaces in between buildings, formerly abandoned and disqualified.

original site

master plan

After the initial site visit and interpretation of the urban plan’s main dynamics, it was felt the need to design three built elements sharing a common nature, although holding different uses and problematics. These three small interventions, with objective and circumscribed problems, should contribute to simplify the complexity of the environment and, above all, to reduce the impact of the turbulent context. Therefore, we sought to design three quiet buildings, under the exciting motto: “nothing new under the sun.”

coffee shop © Joao Morgado

shading surface © Joao Morgado

The solution to the problem seemed to be in the so called fifth elevation (roof plan) that emerges as the decisive factor in the solution of the elevation’s differences and the visual extension of the street facing north (in the cases of the Coffee shop and the Tobacco shop – not built) and, in the case of the Shading Surface, in assuming itself as the referrer element of the square. After some volumetric studies, and reflecting the will of the acquaintance of these three interventions as a building compound, we have chosen to go for a common solution of three roof slopes structures carrying a huge dramatic potential in their interior spaces and a continuous tension between the ceiling and the floor.

This project assumes a particular relevance to ateliermob by being its first built project of a public space .