LADO arquitectura e design

Abranda Restaurant

Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira

ABRANDA RESTAURANT

LADO Arquitectura e Design

AREA
70 m²

YEAR
2021

MANUFACTURERS
Efapel, Muuto, Primus Vitória, TON, Adico, Koklatt Mosaico, Normo, Sanitana, Vale da Gandara

LEAD ARCHITECT
João Regal

LOCATION
Portugal

CATEGORY
Restaurant, Renovation, Historic Preservation

Text description provided by architect.

If the archetypal traditional Portuguese fishing village still exists, then maybe Porto Côvo is this.

The mix of whitewashed cottages, cobbled streets, and pretty squares perched on the low cliff tops of the Alentejo coast, make Porto Covo a great escape spot, just 170km south of Lisbon.

Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira

The historic heart of Porto Covo, Largo Marquês de Pombal, is a marvel of 18th-century popular architecture.

The plan of the urban centre reveals a certain geometric proportion of its boundaries and the straight mesh of streets placed parallel and perpendicular.

The urban centre presents a square with a church, surrounded by residential buildings, repetitive in simple facades, with small clods in the four corners adding rhythm and originality to the set.

Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira

In the very heart of this amazing square, facing the church, Abranda is a brand-new destination for foodies, where to enjoy great food and drinks.

With a rectangular floor plan of approx. 70m2 of indoor area, plus 150m2 of outdoor area, the venue was a former residential space.

To turn it into a restaurant, studio LADO designed a space that feels comfortable and airy, both cozy and contemporary, in full respect of the building’s traditional architecture.

The main room boasts an exposed timber roof structure, with a traditional ceiling cladded with local bamboo, all painted white.

Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira

Dividing the bar from the seating area, a full-length arch was created, adding a curvaceous feeling to the space.

Covering all the interior floor, custom-designed encaustic cement tiles of geometric pattern, in shades of pink and light grey, create an optical vibration throughout the space.

Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira

The interior design scheme is simple, mostly white walls and ceiling, neutral colors with some touches of terracotta-colored elements.

Other materials found in the project are limestone “Lioz”, light grey painted wood, natural oak chairs, and wickers lamps.

In the backyard, a square pergola was designed, creating a sun-protected outdoor space, with roman stripe ceramic blocks laid in a herringbone pattern.

Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira

The white painted metal structure accommodates a long communal wooden table, with a stone top, as well as white metal tables and chairs.

Customers may also seat on the street in white metal chairs, where they enjoy the beauty of Porto Covo’s main square while enjoying a glass of wine.


Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira
Abranda Restaurant
© Francisco Nogueira


Abranda Restaurant
Plans

LADO arquitectura e design
T +351 213 623 525
LADO arquitectura e design
Rua das Fontainhas 76B 1300 257 Lisboa, Portugal Europe