Sports, alternative leisure activities, art and socializing, for all ages and people: a space that offers countless eclectic entertainment options. These are the highlight factors provided by Premissa Híbrida, a new space in Ponta Delgada, on Laureano Street, created by two foreigners.
Clara Luleich, 25 years old, German, and Clem Murphy, 33 years old, English, recently arrived in the Azores (about a year and a half ago, and a little over two years ago, respectively), and fell in love with the island of São Miguel, its inhabitants, and the natural beauty of the archipelago.
They both work in the morning. Clara is an online tutor in her country and Clem is a writer. In the afternoon they are at Premissa Híbrida, an unconventional space, with an equally unorthodox approach to scheduling. Open since January 20, 2023, they operate five days a week on an after-work schedule, Monday through Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm and on Sunday from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
"We started building in December and haven't stopped until now. It's a constant process and we're always improving, but it's getting results. We are very happy to be able to welcome people," explains Clara Luleich, in an interview with Açoriano Oriental.
Unicycles, in-line skating, slackline, climbing, juggling, badminton, skateboards, wakeboards, and trampolines. These are some of the sports and equipment accessible at Premissa Híbrida. There is also an exclusive area for art, with its own material for painting, and an exclusive rest area where you can have tea or coffee.
"We have a very exploratory approach, in the sense that we have all these things and anyone who wants to try it out is free to do so. We're there to help if needed. We wanted to create a comfortable space, regardless of [ each person's] experience level. A place where you don't necessarily have to know what you want to do, just come and try it," says Clara.
The idea comes, above all, from the need to create a space that provides people with various alternatives, both traditional and untraditional. On the one hand, there is the option of doing sports or using the equipment, on the other hand, there is art and painting. And there is also simply the option of working, relaxing, or socializing, because, according to Clara, some people just show up for the company.
"We wanted to give people a place where they can socialize and hang out. Basically, we decided to open a community space with sports and artistic options, where people can just show up," says Clara Luleich.
On March 18, they were part of "Laranjeiras em Flor", an event that brought together Studio 13, Vaga, Fenda Atellier and Premissa Híbrida, all located in the Laranjeiras area, interconnecting them.
"It was a great pleasure to be part of [the event], because we are new. We were very happy that they considered us partners," says Clara, adding that the event, where children and their parents were brought together, was very rewarding: "It was very beautiful to see them (children) being active with their parents.”
As for the future, they are preparing more diverse leisure and community involvement activities, where inclusivity prevails.
"We have a group of queer youth (from the Azorean Nucleus of Rede Ex Aequo) that holds events here, in knowledge exchange initiatives. Last week they painted a huge mural. We will continue to have their events here", emphasizes the creator of Premissa Híbrida.
Clara Luleich also adds that they are planning "movie nights and game nights. As for new sports, we are trying to find an alternative fors good weather. Because we are the option for bad weather. We're going to try to bring acrobatic fabric (an activity where aerial acrobatics are practiced while suspended on a specific fabric) and we're thinking of putting a pole, in the style of pole dancing, not in an erotic way, but in a sporting way. It is undoubtedly something alternative, but I would like people to have the opportunity to try it out," she highlights.
