Shopyard

In the centre of Braga, several shopping centres built between the 1980s and 1990s—despite their central and strategic locations—have become progressively underused, with a significant number of closed shops and vacant or inactive spaces.

Throughout 2025, Shopyard proposed a critical re-examination of these urban infrastructures, encouraging reflection on their present condition and possible future scenarios. With a particular focus on the Santa Cruz Shopping Centre, the project invited creators from different disciplines to reimagine these spaces through artistic and architectural interventions, exhibition-based projects, and programmes of discussion and critical thought.

By activating these overlooked commercial spaces, Shopyard opened up new perspectives on urban reuse, collective imagination, and the evolving role of commercial architecture in contemporary cities.

Curators: Space Transcribers

The Shopyard programme included:

Residencies / Open Studios: Gonçalo Araújo (Histórias Exemplares), Maria João Petrucci (PLAYBOX), Inês Barros (Horta de Névoa), Coletivo P22 (Montra em Habitação), Kindergarten (Fluxo).

Workshops: Ana Areias (Design Workshop), Mónica Faria (Weaving Workshop), Miguel De (Photography Workshop), Marisa Fernandes (Participatory Cartography Workshop), Pedro Augusto (Listening Workshop), Colectiva TA TA колекти (Riddles Workshop), Svenja Tiger (Textile Workshop), Artristas (Tele-shopping Video Workshop).

Summer School: OUEST Architecture, BUREAU, Oitoo.

Other activities: Lucas Carneiro (Tour of shopping centres), TOCA, Barlos and Galéxia (Assembly #1), Frederico Duarte and Janina Gosseye, Ana Catarino (Assembly #2), INSTITUTO (Summer School organisational partners), Francisco Costa (Assembly and exhibition design).

Follow the project: Website

Partners

Condomínio Shopping de Santa Cruz e Shopping Santa Bárbara, Instituto