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HE GROUND floor of Casa Amor covers an area of almost 500m2 in the historic centre of the fishing town. “Until the renovation, it was a bric-a-brac of rooms created and divided over the past 150 years, and included shops like the Baltazar tobacconist where people also changed foreign currency into escudos, a garage and a small apartment added in the 70s, the old stables of 1870, a carpentry workshop and more,” explains Jack.

In short, it was a tangle of small spaces lacking in aesthetics and communication. “But there was an exceptional structure of arches and vaults that we had to save that been weakened by the weight of the years and abandonment,” he explains.

Together with Tatiana Bento of Sena Architects, Jack and Walter looked for ways to take advantage of this vast area –they wanted a patio for light and freshness, a winter lounge with a fireplace to open all year round (both reserved for hotel guests), a professional kitchen, a small restaurant, a small art gallery (which will become a co-working space in low season), and of course a coffee shop with fine French pastries, a delicatessen and a small selection of products the couple love.

The future coffee shop, destined to be a meeting place for the locals, inspired the pop-up they opened last summer in rua do Gaibéu. “We didn’t want an entrance for the hotel directly facing a staircase as you find in old houses,” says Jack. “And our thanks go to Jean, our brother-in-law, an engineer more accustomed to the complexities of the Grand Paris project, who came up with the idea of moving the entrance to rua Dr. Pádua, while the staircase faces rua Dr. Miguel Bombarda, right next to the winter lounge where guests will sit awaiting check-in. Jean also alerted us to the role of the patio. Initially, we had envisaged it on rua Alfredo Keil, which would have meant that the patio would lose its calm with incessant comings and goings. Thanks to Jean, it will be a peaceful place to rest for breakfast or dinner.” And Walter adds: “Tatiana has given this patio a real personality and charm, with these arches that echo those of the interior and are reminiscent of the riads on the other side of the ocean, a nod to the history of the city and the way it was built”.

The restaurant, open to all, will be intimate, with no more than 25 seats, and there will be dining on the patio. “We wanted a kitchen visible from the dining room. The original arches will frame large black metal windows, the same as those that will open onto the patio; we like the marriage of old and modern classic design imagined by Tatiana. We will also benefit from an impressive perspective from the coffee shop to the kitchen,” Walter enthuses.

The ground floor, like the rest of the building, revealed a number of surprises – some good, some not so. “In places there were arches that had weakened, but it was not until they were cleared that we realised the extent of the problem. New ones had to be built to combat the risk of the building collapsing.

“This has led to significant additional costs, not planned for in the budget, so a few more sleepless nights,” says Walter. “But,” he added, “there have been beautiful discoveries like the cement tiles found under the sand that will join the first floor landing, a stone staircase that was under ugly marble slabs, and huge pointed ceilings in the future office... it’s these sort of discoveries that make it possible to forget those sleepless nights and discussions with the banker!”

Jack and Walter have also provided changing rooms with private bathrooms for the staff, believing that if they welcome the team, the team will welcome them, the hosts. Those who are interested should apply now!

So goes life at Casa Amor, between stress and excitement, impatience and legitimate fears. Will they open this summer? We’ll know more in the next issue...