The primary goal of this renovation project was to modernize the original urban market constructed in 1956. This involved expanding the structure by adding new roofs and ancillary buildings, while carefully preserving its architectural heritage. The entire functional layout was redesigned, incorporating new elements to ensure the building meets contemporary standards.
Previously, public areas were scattered throughout the building. Now, they have been centralized in the middle of the square, creating a space where visitors can observe, explore, and easily access any booth. This design encourages visitors to experience the entire market and fosters new connections between buyers and sellers.
Service and support areas are clearly separated from public pathways. The fresh produce section, which involves dirtier handling, and the cooked food section, requiring cleaner conditions, have been distinctly divided. Additional new functions were introduced to improve operational efficiency and hygiene standards. Loading, unloading, and shipping take place in a designated area, complemented by a waste disposal system prepared for subsequent processing.
Specialized technical areas have been added for specific departments, including cutting plants, smoking rooms, smaller kitchens requiring less labor, and dedicated ice-making facilities.
The new dining area has boosted commercial activity within the building and enriched visitor experience. The architectural intervention is closely tied to the rearrangement of spaces and circulation.
The original complex, featuring three “U”-shaped ancillary buildings, has been carefully adjusted with minimal changes to preserve its historic character while accommodating new functions. Each storefront has been relocated to face the central open plaza, which now serves as the heart of all public interaction. This transformation introduces a more expansive, meaningful, and influential spatial arrangement.
The original open-air square was divided into two areas: a broad surrounding corridor and a smaller, sunken central square. The three-meter height difference between these spaces created a fragmented platform layout, requiring separate coverings that obstructed long-range sightlines. This resulted in a disjointed and chaotic spatial experience.
To address these issues, the architects unified the square while managing the 3-meter height difference, adding harmony and warmth to the space.
A main ramp now links the two primary entrances, while a redesigned wide peripheral corridor ramp minimizes stairs and integrates all ramps with smaller pathways. Prefabricated concrete core booths are arranged within this space, enhancing functionality and flow.
All slopes and ramps have been thoughtfully designed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly.
The new roof provides shade and protection from sun and rain, while the accessory structures embrace the interior space, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The canopy design reflects formal concepts developed through a generative process, optimizing materials and elements with distinct expressions: regular wooden contours, parameterized steel trusses, and patterned glass inlays.
Project Drawings
△ Location Analysis
△ Function Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ Lower Floor Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Exploded Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Ray Diagram
Project Information
Architect: APTO Architecture
Area: 9,343 m²
Project Year: 2020
Photographer: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Manufacturers: Binderholz, Investwood, Navarra, Saint Gobain, Unni
Lead Architects: Luis Santos, Rui Araújo
Computational Design Generation & Execution: __AI_S_SC0__
Engineering: B.O. Associados
Contractor: Costeira
Location: Braga, Portugal
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