Some examples of architectural styles in Olhão

The ARU plan (Urban Rehabilitation Area) of Olhão distinguishes 10 architectural styles / building typologies from 'Rural Popular' to 'Patrimonio Cultural' We show the three most famous examples of architectural styles in Olhão:

1. ECLECTICO / ROMANTICO / REVIVALISTA

The facades are often urban with a symmetrical distribution of the facade openings around the entrance portal in the middle. High and common window/door openings with balcony windows/doors on the top floor. Many decorations in eclectic styles such as: neoclassical - neo-baroque and romantic. Refined details with bluestone and/or tile work. Straight or curved lintels. Usually profiled and with decoration in the middle. Beautifully detailed iron railings at balcony windows and at console balconies.

Mouldings and cornices on the facade or at the bottom of the 'platibanda' decorated with neo-baroque, simple geometric or vegetal motifs that sometimes indicate the front or the middle. In special cases: pilasters, half pilasters, corner stones with worked frames/profiles and sometimes rounded corners.

Thanks for using the beautiful drawings of:

@Andreia Arrais / @andreia.arrais / https://www.facebook.com/andreiaarraisdesign/about / & for sale: Pinta Roxa store- Av. 5 October, close to the Olhão markets.

2. ARQUITECTURA ESTADO NOVO (1940-50)

Casa Portuguesa (traditionalism) / Portugues Suave

Double pan line, sometimes in curved shape. When larger spans than arch shape, symmetrical or a-symmetrical.

Decorated natural stone holders for flag sticks. Abstracted decorations in protruding naturestone motifs over windows and doors. V-shaped openings/stacks with stucco or natural stone elements.

Tightly decorated natural stone frames of windows and doors (natural stone with sometimes shell motifs in it). Ornamental consoles in natural stone or stucco under windows or in facades. Horizontalism in facades through frame decorations with (vertical) windows and sometimes decorated/filled surfaces. 

3. ART DECO & Buildings with Art Deco influences

Straight and flat with twin facade openings or next to each other. Pure and geometric shapes. Flat roofs. Emphasis on verticality with straight geometric profiles. Finishing walls, pilasters, facade mouldings and fan-shaped or pyramid-shaped serrated platibandas with strong/striking colours. Elements or decorative panels in stucco composed of round parallel profiles to accentuate facade openings, floors, platibandas and other elements in the facade.Decorative stucco elements, Sgraffito, mosaic, glazed tiles with abstract or floral motifs. Balcony railings made of wrought iron with straight geometric motifs or made of concrete with shadow effects. Decoration with symbols of progress. Sometimes with corners in the form of an opaque cylinder (influence of modernism). Sometimes buildings from previous periods have Art Deco influences in the platibandas or the frames of the facade openings. Sometimes even with Art Nouveau influences (1900-1920) with sometimes rounded corners.

Photos: @beckyinportugal @sipa