Fornos de Algodres Municipal Market

Fornos de Algodres, Portugal

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Fornos de Algodres Municipal Market

Fornos de Algodres, Portugal

Firm

RAS·A

Type

Cultural › Cultural Center

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2024

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$1M - 5M

The Fornos de Algodres Municipal Market (1902) is a historic building that has played a central role in the community’s life over the decades. It underwent interventions in the 1930s and 1990s. In addition to its primary function as a market, the space evolved into a hub for various events, including fairs, exhibitions, and concerts, capitalizing on its central location and size.
The 1990s intervention aimed to enhance the market’s functionality, notably through the installation of metal lattice roofs to offer more shelter. However, it didn’t address the community’s emerging needs, especially during autumn and winter, when the market's open spaces proved inadequate against the region’s harsh weather.
The new design focuses on reconfiguring the 6,500m² market area, creating a sheltered, flexible, multi-purpose space, and improving the public area. Given the limited budget for such a large space (~255€/m²), the design approach was based on the removal of unnecessary or restrictive elements as an act of creation. Flexibility was also a priority, leading to strategic interventions that removed physical and visual barriers. This included reusing the existing structure and introducing new construction elements, ensuring a balance between the old and the new while enhancing functionality and restoring lost historical features. This rehabilitation preserves the market's historic character while adapting it to current needs, transforming it into a community space available year-round.