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Creatives In Bombarda - Hema Kasi-Patel
Hema Kasi-Patel, founder of Alma Nova Porto, brings together design, sustainability and craftsmanship in the transformation of second-hand furniture into unique, contemporary pieces.
“More than restoration, I give new life to old stories.”
Her work is driven by a clear intention: to challenge the idea that “new” is always better, highlighting the potential and the history of existing materials.
Each piece begins with what already exists, carefully reinterpreted with attention to detail, purpose and durability. Through the reuse of materials, she develops bespoke projects that combine aesthetic sensitivity with environmental responsibility.
More than restoration, her practice seeks to give new life to old stories — transforming discarded objects into pieces with meaning and continuity.
Q: How did your journey into furniture restoration and redesign begin?
A: My journey began during a difficult period in my life — I had just lost my job and the pandemic was starting.
I needed to stay active and feel that I still had a purpose. Seeing discarded objects in bins made me realise I could bring together two things I’ve always valued: caring for the environment and expressing creativity.
Q: How would you describe your creative process?
A: I don’t follow a fixed process, because each piece has its own story. Before starting, I observe its condition, style and potential. I always aim to highlight the best in each piece — improving it without losing its essence.
Q: How do you see your work evolving in the coming years?
A: I see Alma Nova Porto becoming a pioneering and inspiring brand in reused furniture design — a reference in Porto and across the country.
Q: What impact would you like to achieve with your work?
A: I want to help change the stigma around second-hand furniture. Many people still see it as something inferior, when in reality many of these pieces have history, character and are made from high-quality materials. My creations are personalised, unique and handmade with care — and I truly believe that makes all the difference.
Q: Why did you choose Bombarda as the location for your studio? A: Due to the nature of my work, it was essential to have a functional studio with some outdoor space. Many options were beyond my budget, until I found this one. Although it doesn’t have direct street access, it is located in the heart of the artistic district — an area I know well and strongly identify with.
Portfolio
All the pieces presented result from the transformation of original second-hand furniture, redesigned through sustainable processes and handcrafted practices.
How to collaborate
In addition to redesigning and selling unique pieces, Alma Nova Porto offers a range of personalised services — from in-person consultations to helping find the right piece for each home. If there is already a piece of furniture to be renewed, the work is developed in close collaboration with the client, transforming it according to their taste and personal story. She also leads creative workshops and is open to collaborations with individuals and organisations that share the same vision: sustainability, reuse and design with purpose.
Bombarda Podcast – A Digital Survival Guide for Creatives
Being creative today, in some spaces of Bombarda, means navigating between artistic practice and the demands of the digital world.
In this episode, we explore how artists and creative entrepreneurs balance creation, communication, and technology in an increasingly demanding context.
With Ana Pina (Tincal Lab) and Ana Oliveira (Coletivo Besta), and moderated by Patrícia Soares da Costa, the conversation explores topics such as websites, storytelling, social media, artificial intelligence, and chatbots — tools shaping contemporary creative practices.
Through shared experiences and insights, a grounded and honest perspective emerges on what it means to create in the 21st century — where digital tools do not replace creativity, but expand it.
Why listen?
The episode A Digital Survival Guide for Creatives reflects on the balance between artistic creation and digital presence in an increasingly technological world.
The conversation reveals how creatives in Bombarda turn technology into an ally, finding ways to communicate, sell, and grow without losing their identity — a true survival guide for today’s creators.
The Bombarda Podcast is a series created by the Bombarda Digital team, giving voice to those who shape the neighborhood on a daily basis — across art, commerce, and community.
Each episode explores different dimensions of this creative territory, uncovering stories, practices, and perspectives that help imagine the future of Bombarda.
At Frida, it’s not just about having dinner. It’s about stepping into a home where food is memory, celebration, and identity. A place where Mexican tradition is lived with authenticity, but also with emotion — and where Bombarda emerges as the natural setting for this story.
“There is a commitment to ensuring that each dish has its own beauty and is, in itself, an artistic creation.”
From a first meeting to building a life together
Q: Your first connection happened while you were Erasmus students in Poland. When you met, did you ever imagine you would one day be cooking together… in Porto, in Bombarda?
João: Not at all. We met while studying — I was in Economics and Sol in Engineering — and our plans were simply to pursue careers in those fields. Cooking together, let alone opening a restaurant in Porto, wasn’t part of our plans at the time.
Q: Reuniting in Mexico changed the course of your lives. What shifted when you decided to build a life there together?
João: It was in Mexico that everything started to take shape. Sol moved शहर to be with me and enrolled in a Mexican cooking course at a very well-regarded school. That’s when she developed a real passion for cooking — and when we first started talking about the possibility of one day opening a Mexican restaurant in Portugal.
Q: After four years in Mexico, you set off on an 18-month journey across Latin America. What were the most memorable moments from that experience?
João: It’s hard to choose. We travelled through 17 countries and something memorable happened almost every day. But what stayed with us the most were the people — like a family in Quito who welcomed us into their home for a month without asking for anything in return.
Sol: There were also difficult moments — we lost the brakes more than once, faced extreme heat and cold, and dealt with constant breakdowns. But all of that taught us a lot.
João: We lived with the bare essentials — sometimes with just 20 litres of water for everything. That simplicity made us realise how little you actually need to be happy.
Q: How did that experience contribute to the idea of opening a restaurant?
João: During the trip, we stayed with several chefs in Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil, which was incredibly important for us. We knew Mexican cuisine, but we had no experience working in or managing a restaurant. That’s when we began to better understand that world.
From travels to Frida in Bombarda
Q: What were the key ingredients that shaped the concept of the restaurant?
João: Many of our dishes carry history — some are pre-Hispanic, others are tied to Mexico’s history. And we feel it’s part of our role to explain that.
Sol: We want people to feel like they’re travelling, not just eating. That, for a moment, they are in Mexico.
“When we saw the space in Bombarda, we immediately felt it was the right place for the Frida restaurant. The connection to art was decisive.”
João: In Mexican culture, food is present in every moment of life. It’s something deeply rooted in identity — and that’s reflected in what we do.
Q: What led you to choose Bombarda to open Frida?
João: When we arrived in Porto, Bombarda was one of the first areas we looked at. We already had the name “Frida,” and the neighbourhood perfectly matched what we had in mind. When we saw the space, we immediately felt it was the right one. The connection to art was decisive.
Q: How do you feel Bombarda connects with the spirit of the restaurant?
João: We expect each dish to be a work of art — even if it’s ephemeral. And that artistic dimension connects very naturally with the neighbourhood. After more than 10 years, a natural relationship has formed: those who visit Frida recognise the Arts District, and those who explore the neighbourhood know that Frida is part of it.
Q: In what way does the neighbourhood influence your relationship with your customers?
João: At first, we thought our audience would mainly be Portuguese, but today we receive many visitors from abroad — the Netherlands, the United States, France, England…
Sol: Very special relationships are created. Some customers leave drawings, handmade pieces, memories. Some even become friends.
João: And we’re receiving more and more Mexican customers — which is very important to us. Being able to surprise them with authentic dishes is a great recognition.
A business with a Mexican identity
Q: What challenges did you face when opening a restaurant so closely tied to Mexican culture in Portugal?
Sol: In the beginning, there were no suppliers for many of the ingredients we needed — not in Portugal, and not easily across Europe either.
João: And building a team wasn’t easy either. Even a highly skilled Portuguese chef may not be familiar with Mexican cuisine, so it requires openness and willingness to learn.
Q: What do you aim to convey through the dishes you serve?
Sol: The pride and passion we feel for Mexican culture. Each dish carries identity, history, and emotion.
João: We want to show the many dimensions of Mexican cuisine — from street food to family meals, from historical dishes to more contemporary ones. And we want people to feel like coming back.
Q: How do you build a family-like atmosphere within the restaurant?
João: We are demanding, but we try to build a relationship of trust with the team.
Sol: We listen to ideas, we involve everyone. We want them to feel part of the house.
Q: What does Frida Kahlo represent for your project?
João: The name came from our journey — from our Kombi Amália-Frida. It represents the connection between Portugal and Mexico. Frida Kahlo is an iconic figure of Mexican culture, so it made perfect sense for the restaurant.
Growing without losing identity
Q: How do you keep the spirit of discovery and authenticity alive?
João: It’s not easy — there are limitations when it comes to ingredients and costs. But we keep adapting the menu, creating new dishes, and exploring new possibilities.
Q: What future do you imagine for Frida?
João: We want to preserve what we have. Growth can sometimes mean losing identity — and that’s something we don’t want.
The focus is to continue with quality, authenticity, and dedication.
At Frida, Sol and João continue to travel — not along roads, but through the flavours they bring to each dish. A story that began far away, but found in Bombarda the place where it continues to be written every day — whenever someone sits at the table.
Contacts
Address: Rua Adolfo Casais Monteiro, 135, Porto Opening hours: Lunch: 12:30pm – 3:00pm | Dinner: 7:00pm – 12:00am Website: Frida – Bienvenidos a su casa Phone: +351 22 606 22 86 Email: info@cocinamestiza.pt
In the heart of Bombarda, there are spaces that are more than just one thing — shops that are also galleries, coworkings that become stages, creative hubs that connect people and ideas.
In this episode, we dive into this new ecosystem of hybrid spaces that are reshaping the city’s creative economy.
With Miguel Ferreira (CRU Creative Hub) and Ana Muska (Circus Network), and moderated by João Vasconcelos (Canal180), the conversation explores topics such as curation, community management, and the balance between business and culture.
Through real stories and shared challenges, a vision of the future emerges — one where collaboration and creativity intertwine, and where spaces become living organisms in constant transformation.
Why listen?
The episode The New Creative Hybrids follows the evolution of Bombarda as a territory of experimentation, where models emerge that combine creation, exhibition, and collaborative work.
The conversation reveals how these spaces — between shop, gallery, and studio — foster new forms of collaboration, sustainability, and belonging, establishing themselves as key elements in transforming the neighborhood’s creative economy.
The Bombarda Podcast is a series created by the Bombarda Digital team, giving voice to those who shape the neighborhood on a daily basis — across art, commerce, and community.
Each episode explores different dimensions of this creative territory, uncovering stories, practices, and perspectives that help imagine the future of Bombarda.
Bombarda Podcast – A Real Neighborhood in a Digital Extension
In the heart of Bombarda, the digital does not replace the territory — it extends it.
In this episode, we explore how a neighborhood can integrate technological innovation without losing its identity, preserving the human relationships that define it.
With António Ponte (Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis), José Carlos Mota, and Tânia Santos (Associação Quarteirão Criativo), and moderated by Elisabete Monteiro (Porto Digital), the conversation explores themes such as belonging, heritage, neighborhood life, and collaboration across institutions, artists, and community.
Through reflections and lived experiences, a vision of the city emerges where the digital acts as an extension — not a replacement — of community life.
Why listen?
The episode A Real Neighborhood in a Digital Extension reflects on the balance between community, territory, and technology in a context of digital transformation.
The conversation reveals how Bombarda is shaping a path between the real and the virtual, establishing itself as a living, inclusive, and collaborative ecosystem — where innovation and identity coexist.
The Bombarda Podcast is a series created by the Bombarda Digital team, giving voice to those who shape the neighborhood on a daily basis - across art, commerce, and community.
Each episode explores different dimensions of this creative territory, uncovering stories, practices, and perspectives that help imagine the future of Bombarda.
Bombarda Podcast - Small Businesses Against Big Threats
In the heart of Bombarda, small businesses continue to be much more than commercial spaces — they are places of encounter, culture, and resistance. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with those facing the challenges of a rapidly transforming territory.
With Hélder Moura (Xau Laura) and Pipa Pinto do Souto (Viga Studios), moderated by Daniel Pires (Maus Hábitos), the conversation explores topics such as gentrification, mass tourism, sustainability, and the reinvention of local businesses.
Through real stories and adaptive strategies, a vision of the future emerges — one where staying is also a creative act, and where resisting means reinventing.
Why listen?
The episode Small Businesses Against Big Threats reflects on the challenges faced by independent projects in Bombarda within a context of constant change.
The conversation reveals how cafés, studios, and local shops develop strategies of resistance and adaptation, establishing themselves as key hubs of identity, culture, and community in the neighborhood.
The Bombarda Podcast is a series created by the Bombarda Digital team, giving voice to those who shape the neighborhood on a daily basis — across art, commerce, and community.
Each episode explores different dimensions of this creative territory, uncovering stories, practices, and perspectives that help imagine the future of Bombarda.
With a background spanning communication, strategy and creation, his work has closely followed the transformation of media and the emergence of new ways of producing and distributing culture.
“I created Canal 180 to apply everything I had learned - and to learn everything I still didn’t know.
Q: What was the vision behind creating Canal 180 in 2011?
A: In 2011 I was working at BBDO and had the opportunity to closely follow the digital transformation in communication. There was a revolution happening — Web 2.0, new sharing dynamics and a generation of creators emerging with accessible tools.
Canal 180 emerged in this context as a provocative idea: launching a TV channel at a time when traditional television was losing relevance. The goal was to give visibility to this new generation of creators.
Q: What do you consider the greatest privilege of your work?
A: Being in constant contact with creators — seeing ideas emerge and learning from talented people every day.
That starts within the 180 team itself, which has brought together multiple creative generations over the years.
Q: What motivated projects like 180 Creative Camp and 180 Media Lab?
A: 180 started with limited resources but great ambition. From the beginning we collaborated with creators worldwide, so instead of going to them, we brought them to us.
That’s how 180 Creative Camp was born — a collaborative space for artists, designers and students.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
A: I enjoy travelling, sports and consuming culture — discovering new things keeps my perspective fresh.
Q: Why did you choose Bombarda as your location?
A: After several years at UPTEC, we wanted our own space.
Bombarda was a natural choice — an artistic neighbourhood full of creative energy. We wanted a physical presence and an open window to the street, which led to the creation of Gallery 9:16 with FAHR.
Portfolio
Canal 180 develops projects that combine audiovisual production, curatorship and artistic experimentation.
Series: Diretor ID “Director ID” is a documentary series by Canal 180 in which filmmakers create audiovisual self-portraits, revealing their perspective and creative process. A personal exploration of identity through the camera.
Event: 180 Creative Camp An annual collaborative creation event held in Abrantes, bringing together artists from different countries and disciplines — design, architecture, animation, film, photography and more.
Projecto: New Activists of European Culture A seven-episode documentary series about the future of European culture. Produced by Canal 180 in collaboration with the project We Are Europe.
Live at the Canal 180 Office Multi-instrumentalist Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent, performed “Cruel” live at the Canal 180 office, in a new 360-degree filmed session. The track is part of her album Strange Mercy.
How to collaborate
Canal 180 operates as a creative platform and production studio, creating audiovisual content for brands and cultural institutions.
