This 850 sq.m building is located just 60 metres away from 5 de Outubro Square, which faces the Cascais Bay. The street slightly slopes upwards from the square and, thus, has less footfall. The building includes 2 independent units: the first has direct access to the street, although not exactly at level. The other has 3 floors – ground, first and attic – with 3 independent accesses – 2 through Rua Afonso Sanches e one through Beco Torto.

Strengths:
• Scale
• Architecture

Challenges:
• Outside main retail areas
• Depth (some areas with limited light) and compartmentalisation
• Absence of shop windows and obstruction with parking
• High investment

Approach & Status:
The limited natural light and many sub-divisions make this building ill-suited for traditional offices. Its location and absence of shop windows (just high windows) make street commerce challenging. In spite of the building’s limitations, its fascinating, historic and labyrinthine architecture encourage alternative solutions. Inspired by concepts such as Chelsea Market in New York, or De Hallen in Amsterdam, we intend to turn this building into a multifunctional and cultural complex with retail associated with small production, artist workshops, showrooms, offices / co-working spaces and daytime and evening entertainment. This concept will be called MANUFATURA (registered brand) and, as the name implies, it is a manufacturing space open to the public.

The architectural adaptation project to its new use and complete renovation of the building (SPO 10/2022) has been approved. Engineering projects were submitted in March 2023.