Continuing the challenge we set ourselves to share our history and evolution, as a company and entity of commercial and historical reference, both for the sector and for the city's own culture and identity, we invited Architect Souto Moura to write about his relationship with Carvalho, Batista & Cª., Lda, following this path of celebrating the company's 70 years.

"Walking down Almada Street, before reaching Clérigos, about halfway down, you'll find the best hardware store in Portugal, "Carvalho, Batista & Cª, Lda".

You enter through a long hallway between showcases where you have the best handles, locks, hinges, hangers, tools, everything you need to build a house or any other construction.

A long wooden counter separates the shelves from the items described above. On the other side, there's a large showcase with fancier items, like a bathroom, with glass and chrome-plated brass consoles.

In the middle, this counter serves as a display for the customer to see and touch, and for the employees to wrap in Kraft paper, expertly tied with north twine, ending in a loose handle for transportation. Almost at the end, before the "cabinet", we meet Mr. Carvalho, who asks us from under his millimetric mustache:

- "So, my dear, what brings you here?"

- " Siza wanted some hinges that could go against the wall."

- "Offset hinge, that's how we call it. Here are four brass ones, try them on the door and then tell me if they work."

When Siza goes, the lesson is more complete, as he uses the opportunity to ask questions about espagnolette, window tippers, window bolts, knob handles, lever handles, etc, etc, and after the lesson, we'd end up in that back office, where the conversation was already being accompanied with a magnificent wine from Mr. Rocha, snuggled up with a fresh meat pie from Lamego on the table, where Siza was building the Banco Borges e Irmão.

Going to Carvalho, Batista, was a full day, not only because of what we learned, but also when we said goodbye to Mr. Carvalho, with his sunny smile, he would say: "my dear, come back often and let me know if it works".

I don't miss that time, because now it's different, as there are other alternatives, but what I really miss is Mr. Carvalho, what he taught us and the way he did it, drawing, packing, and with two strong strokes he cut the north twine, with a firm and decisive move.

Thank you Mr. Carvalho for the person you were, what you taught us, and what you did for the Portuguese Architecture."



 

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