Ler Devagar Bookshop at LX Factory
How to deal with the power of the rotary printing press?
The project consisted of installing the Ler Devagar bookshop in a large warehouse where until not so long ago a printing workshop was operating. A relic of that time, a large rotary printer was left behind, like a sleeping giant, around which it was necessary to gain some space. Our proposal was simply to conceive a set of straightforward guidelines for prompt action. The result was a near invisible work of cleaning, subtraction and territorial organization.
A project with a very particular program: to install the Ler Devagar bookshop in a large warehouse where until recently a printing press used to operate. From that time, the huge rotary machine remained, a sleeping giant, around which it was necessary to gain some space.
Our proposal was limited to a plan of simple and immediate directives. An almost invisible work of cleaning, subtraction and territorial organization. The mediation between the natural energy of Ler Devagar and the power of the rotary.
As an idea, to distribute the functions in the space (bar and gallery area, office and conference area) giving them oasis-like qualities, importance and protection – areas without machines.
The entrance, the meeting room and the offices function on new pieces supported above the machine, made of steel and OSB wood composite panels. On the outside they are rhythmically structured and painted purple, on the inside they are smooth and painted yellow.
Location Lisbon, Portugal
Date 2009
Client Ler Devagar Bookshop
Program Transforming a printing workshop in bookshop and art gallery
Area 1 000 m2
Architecture Kaputt!
Architecture Team Sérgio Antunes, Irene Bonacchi, Ana Brütt, Sofia Reis Couto, Rita Ferreira, Horácio Guedes, Kirill de Lancastre Jedenov, Filipe Moreira, Manuel Ribeiro