Olhão - Former 'Food Square:' Ria Formosa Shopping Center
The tent landscape at the top of the Ria Shopping shopping center still exists, but unfortunately it has lost its function as a ‘Food Square'. As a cover for the food square, it had the appearance of a large circus tent with its masts, steel cables and interconnected domes. It was a large covered outdoor terrace under a tent roof, with glass walls that gave shelter from rain, wind and sun.
The tent roof measured about 2,700 square metres and visually enabled contact with the city from the top floor, which functioned as an ‘urban square’. The tent roof is also relevant from the point of view of energy efficiency because it eliminates the need for artificial lighting during the day as much as the energy consumption for ventilation.
Through the natural convection of warm air, it reduces cooling costs in summer. The project was designed by international architecture firm Broadway Malyan, which also has a branch in Lisbon. Unfortunately, the new owner of the shopping center has changed it into an AL (Alojamento Local) and the "public" character of this beautiful floor level with outdoor terrace has been lost.
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