Livr(e)aria

Ponte de Lima, Portugal · 2023
Bookstore · renovation

Livr(e)aria = Livraria [bookstore] + Livre [free]

The intervention aims to transform a pre-existing space (formerly a food take-out) into a bookstore in a square located in the center of the old town of Ponte de Lima. The concept of the bookstore is very sui generis: a sort of community library composed by second hand books, an open and free literary space where you pay in the others stores around (the bakery, the pharmacy, etc.), a place to gather and broadcast literature and art through public readings, workshops and lectures. A community space to host books, objects and art.

The intervention keeps in a very neutral tone, removing every superfluous element and leaving the raw nature of the space and the imprints of its past occupations, like a palimpsest. With a simple and unique gesture, we introduce a continuous wooden element that designs and encloses the space. A furniture piece that can contain books, objects, people, letters, doors and everything that wants to live on it. Assuming the long and narrow shape of the space, the program extends in a corridor like distribution: on the one side, books are exhibited; on the other side, art.

Livr(e)aria is a simple and informal space that welcomes books, people and art.

It's raw, stripped of preconceptions, exhibiting the objects which, also free, are the space itself.

The project itself is original: a place for books and for literature, the first Livrearia in the world. In the words of its founder, "Within its walls, you shall discover a splendid array of books, perfectly suited to accompany a cup of tea, wine, laranjada, or even a humble glass of tap water. All are warmly welcomed to step inside and partake in the transcendental joys of reading. The books will be displayed with precision and cleanliness. To acquire these literary treasures, please go to one of the nearby establishments to make the necessary arrangements."

With this groundbreaking and new concept, the project seeks to solve the program in one simple gesture and taking advantage of the space inherent characteristic: a long and narrow space where the books would live and be displayed according to the owner changing wiling. In that sense, the performing shelve is designed to contain these literary jewels and to welcome the people that are drawn by its curiosity, inviting them to dwell into their mysteries. The shelve revolves and twists in the end, creating the background for monthly demonstrations of spoken word and other literary events while, at the same time, they hide the doors for rest of the program: on one hand, storage and bathroom, on the other hand, a big door to the adjacent space for future programmatic connections. On the other wall, between the existing columns, where artistic expressions can be displayed, another simple gesture: small wooden shelves, unpretentious, to hold books or a glass of wine.

Architecture
Paulo Vale Afonso, Joana Nunes

Design
Madalena Martins

Client
private

Built Area
45 sqm

Construction

Inovlima

Status
Built

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