This little shop (70 squared meters) is located in Espinho, a beach city located near to Oporto.
There is an old Portuguese song that says: “É uma casa portuguesa com certeza…” (this means: It’s a Portuguese house for sure) that inspired this store from the beginning to the end. The client wanted to create a shop where people would find Portuguese quality products, the jams, the liquors, the olive oil, the Portuguese wine from north to south, even the chocolate is Portuguese and high quality, but the main character would be the Home Cakery (name of the shop). The client’s wife has “fairy hands” as we say in Portugal, and is able to cook wonderful cakes and pies, and decided to dedicate her full time to this.
The Portuguese tile was one of the first inspirations and was the main base to start the design of the shop. The counter and cold showcase is the main “attraction” of this shop, is a total original way to use the Portuguese tile without feeling like if the design is old, an innovative way of using the traditional materials, bringing the identity of the Portuguese culture.
We started to create a continuous line that would be represented in the all shop, from the shelving to the tables, and even to the show window. The tables were constructed as a unique element, divided by lower spaces where the ladies can land their purses.
The use of the Portuguese elements didn’t stay here. On the walls that involve the tables, were created pixel images from very important Portuguese figures like “Luís de Camões” (author of the “Lusíadas”, a very famous Portuguese author), the “Galo de Barcelos” (Barcelos cork), and the “Coração de Viana” (Viana’s heart), all very important elements of the Portuguese culture.
The white, blue and grey colors were defined by the traditional Portuguese tile.
This project is on the shortlist of the international competition ISG Retail Week Interior Awards 2013, on two categories: Best Leisure, Food and Drink of the Year.