José Carlos Cruz Arquitecto

Baixa Bar

Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

PHOTOGRAPHS
Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

AREA
120.0 m2

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Porto, Portugal

CATEGORY
Bar

For years, Porto Downtown was a day-time zone. This was the civic center and buildings were occupied by offices and comercial stores.

Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

The gentrification phenomenon made people move to cheaper zones, leaving housing buildings empty and a desert atmosphere at night.

With the advent of new rehabilitation politics and a series of incentives, new kinds of businesses were created and in two years turned the whole civic-center into the bohemian-center.

Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

BAIXA stands for “Downtown” and its inserted in a context where buildings have a Paris beaux-arts style.

The idea for the Project was set on that Parisian ambience as a starting point.

The space was divided in two rooms with the facilities between them. One is designed to relax and have a drink, while the other one is to dance.

Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

The first room, next to the entrance, works as an extension of the exterior environment.

Decorated with plaster frames on the walls and rosettes on the ceiling, the Deco Style is abruptly interrupted by a sculpted tunnel that links to the other room.

With a whole different environment, the second room is where the dance floor is located and was inspired by a Sol Lewitt installation. The mirror ceiling gives it the “Disco look” that was intended.

Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG


Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Baixa Bar
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG


Baixa Bar
Plan


Baixa Bar
Section
Baixa Bar
Section


Baixa Bar
Sketch

José Carlos Cruz Arquitecto
T +351 226 163408
José Carlos Cruz Arquitecto
R. Fernão Lopes 157, 4150-308 Porto, Portugal