A restored cultural symbol in the heart of the city

➜ Watch the video of Cinema Batalha

A symbol of cultural resistance during the Portuguese dictatorship, the Batalha Cinema, built in the 1940s by architect Artur Andrade, has been given a new lease on life. This iconic Porto building has undergone an ambitious restoration by Atelier 15, with a clear objective: to restore its central role in local cultural life.

Faithful to its commitments to low-carbon renovation based on circularity, TECHNAL incorporates recycled materials to all solutions. Beyond aluminum, all components are carefully selected for their environmental impact and are made from post-consumer recycled materials.

A rehabilitation faithful to modern architecture

The renovation aimed to preserve the building's identity while adapting it to contemporary uses. While some parts, such as the frescoes by Júlio Pomar, were meticulously restored, others were reinterpreted to meet current standards.

The main interventions included:

• a composite steel-concrete structure for the roof,

• a steel-wood floor for the new auditorium,

• reinforcements for the balconies,

• and the integration of an elevator for universal accessibility.

The team retained a large part of the existing structure: load-bearing walls, concrete frame, and slabs for the circulation areas and galleries. The project adhered to a demanding heritage approach while also addressing the technical challenges of thermal and acoustic comfort, safety, and accessibility.

High-performance, discreet joinery

To combine historical aesthetics with contemporary performance, the project incorporates TENTAL façades and SOLEAL windows and doors from TECHNAL.

Thanks to these solutions, the building benefits from:

• optimal acoustic and thermal insulation,

• high transparency through frames capable of supporting up to 850 kg of glazing,

• and visual coherence, with slim profiles adapted to heritage requirements.

All products used are made of Hydro CIRCAL® 75R recycled aluminum, composed of at least 75% post-consumer aluminum, with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world (1.9 kg CO₂/kg of aluminum, compared to an average of 10 kg in Europe).

A work between modernism and functionality

The project draws inspiration from the functionalism of Le Corbusier and the expressionism of Erich Mendelsohn, with a notable influence from modern Brazilian architecture. The whole thing reflects a desire to make the city a place of social interaction, by reintegrating cinema into its urban and cultural fabric.

TECHNAL solutions used:

• TENTAL curtain walls

• SOLEAL windows

• SOLEAL doors