Typography on building – Tipografia do Conto

Location: Oporto (Portugal)

Type of Facility: Hotel and Art Residence

Programme:

Branding and Graphics on Architecture for Tipografia do Conto. Tipografia do Conto is a meticulously restored 19th-century factory building, originally a disused Typography and Graphic Arts Workshop.

Design approach:

As part of the branding project for Tipografia do Conto, we at R2 played a pivotal role in shaping the identity and atmosphere of the spaces. Our distinctive approach involved integrating typographic installations into all the ceilings, a truly unique touch that sets the establishments apart. This idea of having text in concrete on the ceilings was totally new at that time, adding an element of disruption to the conventional design.

Instead of simply recreating existing decorative motifs, we took a conceptual approach. We invited a select group of individuals familiar with the space to craft different texts for each room, each associated with a distinct graphic style. This allowed the subject matter and tone of the narrative to shape its visual interpretation, infusing each space with its own unique story.

The design concept turns each ceiling into a page, a chapter in the story. Multiple authors were invited to craft short texts inspired by the building, resulting in a dynamic and engaging narrative woven into the very fabric of the space.

Our expertise in typography, combined with collaboration with architects, engineers, and builders, ensured that the composed texts seamlessly harmonised with the building’s structure. This innovative approach, applied during construction, resulted in embedded letters and graphic elements, becoming an integral part of the building’s identity. The enduring scenographic outcome has left a striking impact on the hotel’s rooms and communal spaces.

We have got good feed back on the project, actually, the hotel stands as a city icon, garnering acclaim from architectural publications and tourism blogs filled with comments from experts like “stunning typography,“.