CHEMIST'S GLASS BOTTLES

Laboratório Chimico, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa

UP AND DOWN

This Up and Down signals (on the other side of the stairs) are hand painted tiles from the Aveiro ceramic factory "Fábrica da Fonte Nova" (1882 - 1937). The white tiles are most probably from the same factory.

Mercado do Bolhão, Porto

ENCAUSTIC TILES

Private House, Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto

STONE COFFERS

The vaults and crossing of S. Vicente de Fora, one of the most exquisitely designed churches in Lisbon. Late 16th-early 17th century, the original architect was Filipe Terzio. A sort of High Renaissance from an estranged Italian, every piece relates to the whole and the detailing is superb, sharp and highly inventive.

BALCONY CORNER

The multiplication of different materials harmoniously blended at this corner in Régua is staggering. Plaster walls, stone balcony-cornices, painted corrugated sheet metal siding, clay tiles, wood trim and wrought iron railings.

HANDRAIL

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga.

DOOR KNOCKER

Private House, Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto

FLUE

 

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga.

This "flue"  is nothing less than the whole meat smoking room. Sausages and other meats would be placed at the hooks shown on the top photo, and be smoked from a firepit below. The small holes in the wall, and the roof itself, would let the smoke out. The wonderful iron structure lifts the tiles so there is an air gap at the junction with the walls. Needless to say, the kitchen has been cleaned and no curing has been done in a while!

PAINTED WOOD CEILING

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Private house, Braga. Are they cupping in or sticking out? Difficult to tell, although the first seems highly improbable. In any case the tactile nature of this wall is without question, and the colors are beautiful.

ROOM SIZE LANTERN

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga. Walls clad in painted tin, wooden windows.

CASA HORTÍCOLA

Casa Hortícola, Mercado do Bolhão, Porto.
A lot has already been said about this in The World of Interiors, but unfortunately it's not availabe online. The seed store is a gem on one of the corners of the Bolhão market in Porto. The market is visited by hundreds of tourists every day, but in spite of this its conditions border the insalubrious, with pigeons walking inbetween the flowers and pieces of stucco falling from the ceiling. The produce is without compare in the city though, and we can only hope this store remains open for long.

GARDEN CLOCK

 The ticket booth for the lake boats at the grounds of Bom Jesus, Braga.

STONE STEPS DETAILS

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. The gardens, with cantilevered stone steps accessing the top of the property wall.

ONION DOMED GARDEN FOLLY

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th-18th century), Braga, the gardens.

WALL

A "tabique" wall in Mizarela, near Guarda. Horizontal boards, vertical boards, and wood lath before the final lime plaster layer.

DOORBELL

Private House, Rua do Rosário, Porto.

THE EYES

Palácio do Raio, Braga

SKYLIGHT

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

DOOR DETAIL

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. Riveted metal door.

DOOR JAMB DETAIL

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

INTERIOR WOOD DOOR

Private House, Rua do Rosário, Porto. Faux-painted and decorated door.

WOBBLY BAROQUE DOOR

Paço Episocopal Bracarense (18th century), Braga. More psychedelia, this time in the form of door panels.

HORSE STALLS

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

PALÁCIO DOS BISCAINHOS

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga (17th century).

This house is now a museum. It has been developed over the centuries, growing from northern Portuguese Baroque to more elegant "French" quarters, together with insect-painted walls.

The entry hall is almost medieval in its heavy and dark character, and sports four small statues that greet newcomers. Notice how the brackets which hold them actually develop from the pilasters between the arches, confusing their architectural roles. The floor is a tactile joy to walk on, like a field of petrified cushions. The gardens are wonderful, and will be featured later on.

WOOD STAIRS

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

STRANGE PAINTED TEXTURE

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga. 18th c. psychedelia.

ESTAÇÃO DE SERVIÇO PASSOS MANUEL

Garagem Passos Manuel, Porto  (1937 - Architect Mário Abreu)

There is no single corner of this parking garage building which is not designed. With steel windows, tiled columns, its interior plaster texture, the neon lighted map of Portugal, the light fixtures, the terrazzo stairs... this building is so much more that just a functional parking place. And if in the ground floor the beautiful store front remains empty, the top floor loft is occupied by one of the best known bars in the nightlife of Porto - Maus Hábitos - offering a nice place for a drink with a great view over town.

MANJERICOS

Two weeks ago it was "São João", the biggest party in Porto. The traditional Manjericos (bush basil) are grown at this time and displayed at people's houses and balconies. Each has a little paper flag with a cheeky verse.

INTERIOR DOOR

Private House, Rua do Rosário, Porto

DECO DOOR HANDLE 2

And another door handle in Serralves. This time between outside and the dining room, where the table was indeed designed by Ruhlmann for the Count of Vizela.

DECO DOOR HANDLE

Serralves, a door handle over a mirrored door inside a dressing room. Did we mention Ruhlmann worked here? So did Marques da Silva, whose time is coming for a post or two.

OLIVE OIL GAUGE

 

Olive Oil Gauge manufactured by António Nunes, Lisboa

ANALOG SCALE

Analog Scale, manufactured by Avery Portuguesa Limitada, Lisbon

MARCOLINO WALL WATCH

Garagem Passos Manuel, Porto  (1937 - Architect Mário Abreu).