Belamar
António Teixeira

Belamar Complexo

Ventura + Partners as Architects

Belamar Complexo is a multi-service development that aims to revitalize the block that once housed the old canning factory of the same name, with the intention of improving and boosting one of the main entrance areas to Vila do Conde, a coastal town just 30 minutes from the city of Porto.

Key features of this new block include the modularity within a single architectural gesture and the fluidity of access and pathways, which take advantage of and enhance the site's slope.

photo_credit António Teixeira
António Teixeira

In response to the urban context, a solution was sought that could address various constraints while simultaneously providing a distinctive character that enhances the surrounding urban environment. The urban tensions to the south and east were considered, including both the roundabout area and the visible elevation differences between the eastern and western sides. Additionally, the symbolism of entering the consolidated urban fabric was addressed. The 18th-century aqueduct is the most striking architectural element in the landscape. The design approach was to create a residential and hotel building as a cohesive whole, treating it as a single structure. The longitudinal dimensioning of the building was emphasized to adapt the volumetry to the site's characteristics, allowing for a dialogue with the neighboring aqueduct.

photo_credit António Teixeira
António Teixeira

The complex is divided into several functional parcels: a commercial area featuring a supermarket and street-level shops; a service zone that will include a gas station; a commercial building with a hotel to the south, near the roundabout; and, finally, a residential parcel integrated with the hotel building, merging two functions into a single volume in formal and material harmony, reinforcing the presence of the multifunctional volume in the composition.

photo_credit António Teixeira
António Teixeira

Efficient accessibility was ensured through a main access and additional entries, combined with designated parking areas for different uses, distributed for organized flows.

Several green spaces were also planned, including a large area at the southern front, integrating with the green space to the north and the metro line, and a boulevard extending the already landscaped avenue.

The complex features an elongated, identity-defining volume with a “broken” floor plan, appearing elevated at the level of access to the hotel and residences, conveying a sense of lightness.

photo_credit António Teixeira
António Teixeira

The building’s cladding features a three-dimensional quality, creating light effects that highlight the longitudinal twists in its design. Despite the continuous architectural language, reinforced by the modular repetition of its exterior "skin," the building accommodates distinct programs — hotel and residential — with independent access.

The pre-fabricated elements used for the façades offer sustainable advantages, reinforcing the commitment to energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

The project, attentive to the needs and well-being of its users, creates a functional and welcoming environment through a holistic approach, designing a space intended to provide an optimized experience of use and living.

photo_credit António Teixeira
António Teixeira
Products Behind Projects
Product Spotlight
News
CAN adds verdant extension to London terrace
12 Nov 2024 News
CAN adds verdant extension to London terrace

Architectural studio CAN has completed the extension of a terraced house in Stoke Newington, London,... More

QARTA Architektura’s design for new Blum HQ exhibits smart industrial aesthetic
12 Nov 2024 News
QARTA Architektura’s design for new Blum HQ exhibits smart industrial aesthetic

Czech creative studio QARTA Architektura has designed a new Prague-based headquarters for Blum, a le... More

Fujianese restaurant blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary aesthetics
12 Nov 2024 News
Fujianese restaurant blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary aesthetics

Located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Nin Hao is a new Fujianese restaurant designed by the archite... More

Studio Gang Unveils Expansion at California College of the Arts in San Francisco
12 Nov 2024 News
Studio Gang Unveils Expansion at California College of the Arts in San Francisco

Studio Gang has completed an exciting new expansion for the California College of the Arts (CCA) cam... More

Frankie Pappas and community activists transform GBV hotspot in South African township with bright pink landmark
11 Nov 2024 News
Frankie Pappas and community activists transform GBV hotspot in South African township with bright pink landmark

Frankie Pappas is a collaborative architecture and design studio. The name is a collective pseudonym... More

Open Architecture designs conical Sun Tower as a “cultural lighthouse”
11 Nov 2024 News
Open Architecture designs conical Sun Tower as a “cultural lighthouse”

Beijing-based Open Architecture has completed the Sun Tower, a waterside cultural facility in the Ch... More

Midland Metropolitan University Hospital sets new standard for clinical healthcare design
7 Nov 2024 News
Midland Metropolitan University Hospital sets new standard for clinical healthcare design

Architectural studios HKS, Cagni Williams, and Sonnemann Toon have completed the Midland Metropolita... More

EovaStudio uses Baguette Oval glazed terracotta facade from Tempio in sports pavilion renovation
6 Nov 2024 News
EovaStudio uses Baguette Oval glazed terracotta facade from Tempio in sports pavilion renovation

Seville-based architectural firm EovaStudio has renovated and improved a sports pavilion located in... More