In Vila Nove de Famalicão, Portugal, the local market opened on September 21st of 1952. The construction of the project served two key purposes at this time: to decongest the old fairgrounds (now called D. Maria II Square) and create a more pleasant space with better hygienic conditions.
After a golden period, the Market in subsequent years became an obsolete space, resulting in this latest Municipal Market Rehabilitation project undertaken by Rui Mendes Ribeiro Architects.
The architect’s intervention at the Famalicão Municipal Market aimed to rehabilitate the market, with the premise of enhancing its architectural character and improving existing conditions.
Thus, in addition to the intervention on the existing building, a new metallic structure was built, guaranteeing the ability to meet the needs of the permanent and cyclical Market while still allowing for an opening and new urban front to the public spaces of Marechal Humberto Delgado Avenue and Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square.
The nature of this new screen-like structure guarantees the shading and waterproofing of the space and makes a contextual reference to the pre-existing triangular module of the turret.
