The story tells us about Manelito, a 5-year-old boy, but also about his dog Fava and his father António. The setting is an old fisherman's house in which, in every corner, a surprise is hidden. The description seems straight out of a book, but this story is the motto for an innovative tourism experience that is being born in Albufeira.
It is next to the Fisherman's Roundabout that we find “A Porta 48”. Painted in white, yellow and red, the design of this house, in downtown Albufeira, immediately takes us back to times gone by.
Michele Renda, director of the Algarve company Nine Finger Technologies & Home Design, opens the door for us.
She is in charge of this special project that, with the help of technology, will create «a new product in the Algarve».
«We were contacted by the owner of the house who told us that he really appreciated our work and wanted us to give free rein to our creativity», he begins by explaining.
«As the idea is that the house welcomes tourists, we thought of creating something differentiating and set up a story that will be told, through technology, in various parts of the house», he adds.
So, as tourists “explore the house, the story is being told because the technology will be embedded in the furniture”, says Michele.
Deep down, it's as if each piece of furniture is a part of the story.
«With that, we create that enthusiasm of trying to find out what the next episode is like», says Michele.
Without yet wanting to reveal what technology is used, the director of Nine Finger Technologies & Home Design, a company based at the University of Algarve, explains only that she started developing the concept «last year».
«We are predicting that the furniture will start to come in now during the month of April, at the latest, so that we can start installing the technology in May», he adds.
For now, the house is almost empty. Even so, it is already possible to see some details that show how one of the main objectives of the entire intervention is that the identity is preserved.
The shutters are in wood; the hand-painted tiles and, in the bathroom, next to the shower, there is the paddle of a boat.
One of the big surprises is reserved for the outside: a small “beach”, with sand, with a kind of walkway, a tank with water and a boat.
«We will also have a hammock that will use fishing net», reveals Michel.
“This is a totally different concept of a hotel. Basically, this house will be rented to tourists to experience the old Portugal», he concludes.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
Comments