The former Atrium shopping center in Faro, is, these days, full of life. Merchants, artisans and associations have taken over this space located in the heart of the Algarve's capital downtown, which has been closed for a long time, where they make known their products and the work they do.
Today, Saturday and tomorrow, Sunday, the Christmas Market, which has been taking place for a week, will be reinforced by dozens of exhibitors, who will join those established there, every day, for two weeks. And the population joined, with a full house on the first weekend and a lot of people circulating, even on weekdays.
With this Ambi projectfaro, conceived in close articulation with the National Association of Designers, the Cultural Association Palácio do Tenente, the Sardinha de Papel and the Commercial Development Association of the Historic Area of Faro, the Atrium is now the Creative Center of Baixa de Faro.
Here, a little of everything fits, from temporary stores pop-up, to interdisciplinary spaces, promoted by local entities and other public or private business infrastructures in the Algarve region. At the same time, projects are promoted in the creative areas, workshops, exhibitions, thematic markets and workshops, among others.
«This is a first step towards something that can be very important for all of us», stressed to RUA FM Davide Alpestana, from the Palácio do Tenente Cultural Association, one of the mentors of this project, stressing the fact that a space is reused, despite the its privileged location and being like new, it has been closed for a long time. “This building has enormous potential”, he considered.
Davide Alpestana does not hide that there is "the will" on the part of merchants and associations to turn this temporary event into something more permanent, but he does not guarantee that this will happen. “But, if this project existed, it would have to be sustainable”, he explained.
"The idea is that the space is available for commercial and creative experiences, and that it can be a place where creators and brands can operate in beneficial conditions, enhancing a dynamic that makes the building's operation sustainable," he explained.
This philosophy refers to that of the Bívar event, which on several occasions animated the noble area of the Algarve capital, based on Rua Conselheiro Bívar, which is not a coincidence. The Atrium – Downtown Creative Center Faro it has as stimulators the three structures that launched this initiative.
The three partners who created Bívar and are now at the base of the Atrium initiative met at Rua Conselheiro Bívar, where they took up unused spaces, giving them new life.
“Buildings that are closed are always an unexplored diamond. Here in Faro, we have had several initiatives that have taken advantage of the fact that buildings are closed and this is another one. The reactivation of the Atrium turned out to be a natural sequence of this dynamic, which has been imprinted by associations, by young people and also by some less young people», said Davide Alpestana.
the ambifaro it has a decisive role throughout the process, as it was through it that it was possible to enter into a lending contract with the bank Millenium BCP, holder of Atrium's property rights, following the bankruptcy of the project in 2009.
The associations involved were responsible for preparing the space, which had been unused for a long time. «First, we tried to understand what state it was in. And the surprise was good, as everything was operational. Light, water – there's even a working waterfall in the center – escalators… the building is like new», he revealed.
Comments