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History
A new urban landmark for Espinho.
Exterior of the Fosforeira Quarter today
More than a rehabilitated building, the Fosforeira Quarter represents a new way of living and experiencing the city.
It is a project that honours the past, acts in the present and projects a more dynamic, sustainable and vibrant future for Espinho.
A development with soul, identity and purpose, built to grow with the community and set the pace for a new urban cycle.
Historical Context
Fosforeira Portuguesa
The history of Fosforeira Portuguesa is inseparable from the industrial history of Portugal and the city of Espinho.
Born in the aftermath of a three-decade state monopoly, the company became one of the most emblematic in the national industry, leaving an indelible mark on the social and economic fabric of the region.
In 1864, the first matchstick factory appeared in Lisbon. In 1895, Counselor Hintze Ribeiro abolished the 69 existing factories by decree, granting exclusive manufacturing rights to the Companhia Portuguesa de Fósforos. Once the 30-year monopoly expired, Fosforeira Portuguesa was established in 1926 in Espinho, founded on the initiative of the banker António Vieira Pinto, from Banco Pinto & Sotto Mayor.
1926
Founding of Fosforeira Portuguesa in Espinho
1946
Located in the former paper factory of Pedro Silva Godinho, the company distinguished itself through its social vocation: the iconic matchbox collections and the construction of a nursery and canteen for its workers, inaugurated in 1946 with a project by the Espinho architect Jerónimo Reis.
1963
At the peak of production in 1963, Portuguese factories produced more than 16 billion matches, with exports exceeding 400 tons, in an industry where raw materials were almost entirely national.
2006
Globalization dictated the end. Competition from matches imported from China and the European Union made the operation unsustainable, and Fosforeira Portuguesa, a company owned by Fosforeira Portuguesa, S.A., closed on September 30, 2006, with only 39 workers.
2016-2018
Between 2016 and 2018, the Salgueiro Group promoted the rehabilitation of the iconic building of the defunct factory, located on Rua 20 in Espinho, giving rise to the Fosforeira Building, an innovative development that combines residential and commercial spaces. Comprising 44 apartments ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms, with areas between 70.50 m² and 210.30 m², and 7 shops at the commercial gallery level, the project preserved the original solid brick architectural elements on the facades, resulting in a unique combination of industrial architectural charm and contemporary construction aesthetics. The complex also features 154 private parking spaces and an outdoor car park with a capacity for 42 vehicles, across a total gross area of 16,779.20 m².
