ABSTRACT
In the nineteenth century, the small fisherman’s village of Leca da Palmeira was one of the favourite seaside resorts of the English colony in Porto. The finishing materials used in the building emphasise its hybrid nature. The layout is decidedly organic and forms a response to the topography of the site. African Afzelia wood is used throughout the interior. It is used as finishing material for plain surfaces, such as the floors and ceilings, but also serves to highlight special features, such as pillars and skylights. In building the Boa Nova restaurant and teahouse, the municipality aimed to attract an upmarket clientele to the area. In the restaurant, a large window that runs down the longest side of the room frames the ocean view to the west. At the Boa Nova teahouse and restaurant, the boundary between exterior and interior appears to dissolve.
