The Mercado Caminha, Portugal designed by LOFTSPACE and Tiago Sousa, reimagines the traditional market as a contemporary architectural landmark. Situated in the heart of Caminha, Portugal, the new structure replaces an aging, provisional market building that struggled with structural inefficiencies and regulatory non-compliance.
Rooted in functionality, urban integration, and material expression, Mercado Caminha harmonizes its design with the town’s urban fabric and the natural backdrop of the Minho River. The market’s design responds to the site’s inherent characteristics—bordered by the Pontaut Combault Square, the urban core, and the riverfront—establishing a strong connection between commerce, culture, and public space.
The previous market’s disrepair and inability to meet modern safety, hygiene, and accessibility standards prompted a complete architectural overhaul. The new 900m² building embraces a parallelepipedal form, exhibiting clean lines and structural rigor. An external gallery of pillars provides a sense of protection and rhythm, reinforcing the market’s role as a public landmark. The interplay of light and shadow throughout the day enhances the volume’s dynamism and engagement with its surroundings.
Materiality plays a key role in the market’s identity. The structure is primarily concrete, exuding permanence and resilience, while the base is clad in yellow Molianos stone, introducing warmth and a sense of nobility. This contrast between the robust and the refined creates an architectural dialogue that resonates with Caminha’s picturesque character.
The interior of the building is covered with washable and waterproof epoxy paint up to the height of the openings (two and a half meters) on all interior walls, allowing for effective hygiene. This visual line created by the exchange of materials is evident throughout the volume, both outside and inside, thus creating a feeling of elegance and lightness.
The interior space is organized into three sections: one to the south with shops with exterior and interior access and sanitary facilities, a central public area – fish and fruit market -, and a technical and restricted area to the north. The northern, technical section is made up of changing rooms, an area with (individual) cold rooms, administrative space, and an outdoor space for waste. The latter, physically separated from the others, is accessible via an independent route. It is an act isolated from all loading and unloading moments or access to the building.
The staff space creates the hinge between public and private. The changing rooms, as well as the cold storage rooms, have autonomous routes and exits, without any intersection with the circulation of the general public. Administration is related to the sales space.
To the south, the front elevation is made up of four autonomous commercial spaces, but all with direct access to the interior of the market and common sanitary facilities. Here, there is the possibility of closing commercial spaces’ access to the market depending on each person’s schedule.
The central space, the market, is the space and use that dignifies the volume. A large space, with high ceilings and a “monumental” scale, is deeply bathed in natural light and views of the transparent planes of the elevations. This is where the primary act of the program unfolds. This is the meeting point for users. By being flooded with natural light, varied by the position of the sun throughout the day, an emotional and dynamic scenario typical of the market image and experience is created.
Transparent planes along the elevations ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor visual connection, emphasizing accessibility and openness. The natural light that floods the central market space enhances the vibrancy of commercial interactions, reinforcing the social and economic significance of markets as community gathering points.
Mercado Caminha stands as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional marketplace. The use of washable epoxy coatings up to 2.5 meters on interior walls ensures optimal hygiene while contributing to a visual language that exudes elegance and lightness. This architectural intervention redefines Caminha’s relationship with its marketplace, enhancing its urban identity and fostering an environment where commerce and community coexist seamlessly.
Fact File
Location: CAMINHA, Portugal
Project name: MERCADO CAMINHA
Architecture Office: LOFTSPACE + TIAGO SOUSA
Main Architect: RUI CORREIA e TIAGO SOUSA
Interior Design: TIAGO SOUSA e RUI CORREIA
Total area: 900m2
Photo Credit: Ivo Tavares Studio
