Barbosa & Guimarães' Porto marina buildings are supported by curving arcs of steel
Steel arcs curve across the glass facade of this Portuguese marina complex by local architects Barbosa & Guimarães (+ slideshow).
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_2.jpg)
Barbosa & Guimarães was commissioned to design the Douro Marina buildings for a harbour situated at the mouth of the River Douro, an inlet from the North Atlantic Ocean.
The complex, which faces Porto across the water, comprises three volumes. A long administration block runs along the waterfront, and two shorter blocks containing a restaurant and spa project off a slope to one side.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_15.jpg)
The waterside buildings are fronted with curved steel beams, which reference the framework of small gangways that connect the harbour wall and jetties.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_7-e1418043827992.jpg)
Behind this steel frame, the facades are made up of large sections of glass and white-painted steel with circular indentations that take on the appearance of a ship's riveting.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
The longest of the three structures runs parallel to the harbour wall, creating a paved promenade between an access road and the water.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_17.jpg)
Chunks of square-sectioned steel from the building's construction are dispersed along this pedestrian path to form seating areas around pockets of planting.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_18.jpg)
"The linear building, which stretches along the existing car park, defines the boundary between pedestrian and automobile," said the architects.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_12.jpg)
A wide flight of stairs at one end of the building leads directly to the upper floor, where the steps pass through a suspended hood that exaggerates the length of the upper storey.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_11.jpg)
At the centre of the building, the glass facade detaches from the metal framework to indicate a ground floor entrance. Training and changing rooms, administration offices and event spaces inside are spread across the upper and lower floors.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_36.jpg)
Narrow staircases rise through a double-height atrium to the upper level where the wells are surrounded by thick white or mirrored balustrades.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_33.jpg)
Tube lights are set periodically into ridges of the corduroy-textured ceiling, and concertina shutters slide across runners to divide the open-plan space.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
Further along the coastal path, two glass and steel volumes project off a grassy slope. The glass boxes are supported by the steel arcs and anchored to the slope by two-storey white blocks.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
The two buildings – one housing a restaurant and the other a spa and gym – are accessed by pathways and steps that run up the back of the slope from the road and car park.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_468_42.jpg)
Photography is by José Campos.
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_01.gif)
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_02.gif)
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_03.gif)
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_04.gif)
![Marina Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Barbosa & Guimaraes Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/12/Marina-Douro-in-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia-Portugal-by-Barbosa-and-Guimaraes-Architects_dezeen_05.gif)