Submission for old wine warehouse - need help figuring out next steps

[Ardievos]

Hello everyone!
I don’t usually insist much on a submission once it has been rejected but I honestly had a blast researching for this one and I learned a lot about the past of my hometown doing this. I figured I’d try again because this one deserves it. If you could help me reason what to do to get this submission through (or tell me if I should just give up ) I’d appreciate it. So here it goes:

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Title:
Antigo armazém vinícola da Sociedade Abel Pereira da Fonseca

Main Photo:

Description:
Armazém construído no início do século XX em nome de Abel Pereira da Fonseca, um dos mais importantes empresários portugueses da sua época, no setor do vinho. Localizado junto à via férrea, daqui foram expedidos milhares de barris de vinho para Lisboa, e daí para o mundo. Foi recuperado pela rede Lidl em 1995 e renovado em 2024, ainda mantendo todo o traço original do edifício emblemático, o que lhe valeu a consideração como dos mais belos supermercados do mundo pelo jornal inglês The Sun em 2021.

Location:
39.264770, -9.154786

Supplemental Information:

O edifício remonta para o passado histórico da vila do Bombarral como um dos grandes produtores e exportadores de vinho da região e junta-o com o presente e em como a arquitetura moderna pode ser usada para conciliar a preservação do património histórico com a construção de espaços modernos e funcionais. Como tal, considero este edifício altamente distinto dos demais, com valor histórico e digno de ver de perto.
Entre as fotos de suporte, incluo uma foto de 1955 que mostra o lado do armazém virado para a ferrovia, onde se carregavam os vagões dos comboios de mercadorias com destino a Lisboa. Também incluo uma foto da atualidade do edifício, já depois da sua renovação em 2024 (renovação que se pode ver em curso pelo streetview), que mostra bem a junção entre o moderno e o tradicional.
Artigo do The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/15418592/beautiful-lidl-building-portugal-greece/
Renovação de 2024: INAUGURAÇÃO LIDL BOMBARRAL | Grupo AOC

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The submission was then rejected by Niantic’s automated process. I appealed, mostly because I wanted to see what exactly was the reason for the AI rejection, which I assumed was mostly the presence of the retail store:

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Appeal Notes
This submission is for an historic wine warehouse that was designed by the portuguese architect Norte Júnior, one of the most prominent architects of its time, and built in the early 20th century by Abel Pereira da Fonseca, a major figure in the portuguese wine and agricultural history.
Although it now hosts a supermarket store, the outside structure has been completely preserved: it still retains its original façade, the round glass windows and the sloped ceramic roofs. This preservation effort has even earned the store national and international media attention for its unique historic architecture. Therefore this is not just a generic commercial building, but instead a preserved historic landmark that represents the town’s viticultural and industrial heritage, which, in my opinion, wholly fulfils the Exploration criteria.
However, if the reason the automated process declined this PoI is something other than the presence of the retail store, I would also appreciate some feedback on what I can change/improve for a future submission. Thank you for considering this appeal!

Niantic Note

Thanks for the appeal, Wayfinder! The nomination in question does not meet the Wayfarer criteria, as it is a common business warehouse with no significance. If this assessment is not accurate, please resubmit the nomination with additional context. We recommend you review the Wayspot Criteria and Forum Criteria Discussions Library sections before submitting your next Wayspot contribution: Wayfarer — Niantic Technical Support and Help Center and https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/21-wayfarer/faq/4693-forum-criteria-discussions-library/

Reviewers provided these top reasons for not accepting this submission:

1. The submission lacks uniqueness or historical and cultural meaning

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I really thought I had done a good job of providing plenty of historical context for the warehouse, but I suppose I tried to convey too much information about this building between its old and modern phases that I might have lost focus, which resulted in a big wall of text (sorry fellow wayfinders ), all while just scratching the surface of each topic.

I’m thinking it might be better to go more in depth on one of these three aspects, while mostly ignoring the other two:

1. Historic: focus more on the history of the town’s wine industry, using this warehouse as an anchor point to explain what once existed here and how this is the only remnant of that time.
2. Architecture: it was designed by Norte Junior, one of the most famous architects in Portugal in the early 20th century. Although definitely not as impressive as some of his better-known works, the warehouse still exhibits traces from his early modernist style.
3. Preservation and integration: rather than simply demolishing it, the new owners kept the original exterior and fully integrated it into a modern retail space. This has warranted them a fair dose of media attention, both at a national and international level.

Apologies for the long post, but what do you think? Do I have enough eggs here to make an omelette?

[elijustrying]

Hi
I might need more coffee but I’m struggling to see how this could be improved.
It looks and sounds like an interesting building, and Lidl have done a very sympathetic job.
Is there an official register of interesting / important buildings that should be protected in the way this one has been? If there is, a reference to that would be good.

[TjoeMi]

Personally i would approve this. The link and photo is good enough

[salixsorbus]

I would accept this in review. You have done a very good job on providing information and evidence. The photo is a good one and shows an interesting building. The title is accurate and isn’t misrepresenting what this is.

I am surprised that the ML system rejected this. I’m disappointed with the summary appeal result.

Please note that when resubmitting something that was rejected by the ML system, use a different main photo. It can be similar, but there is evidence that reusing the identical photo will result in immediate rejection regardless of text changes.

Use the web submission process so that you can provide up to 5 supporting photos (which you may have done first time). You want obvious proof that this building is the one with the history.

[jojenreed64]

In my experience, nominating and receiving approvals historical buildings or interesting architecture can be difficult. I have had mixed successes with my own attempts at this. However, in my opinion, your nomination looks better than any I have done. It’s well-researched and documented. It is an example of an excellent nomination.

Perhaps staff will see your post and overturn the appeal rejection. If not, I would submit this again and hope it can evade the “automated processes” and be seen by human reviewers.

[frealafgb]

I very much hope that staff overturn this incorrect appeal decision. This is a really cool building and you did a brilliant job with the nomination. The appeal person needs more training.

[Ardievos]

Thanks for all the responses and feedback everyone!
I also appealed hoping that getting this to a human reviewer would help the submission, so it was honestly a bit dishearten to get the reviewer’s note saying this was a warehouse with no particular significance. Seeing your positive response to the original submission is great

If I am to resubmit though, do you have an idea of what was likely triggering the ML rejection in the first place so I can at least try to avoid next time, and hopefully get it to reach human reviewers?

[cyndiepooh]

That main photo is gorgeous. Well lit and well composed, and I am displeased to learn the automated process rejected it.

Don’t use this photo I found on Google Maps of course, but possibly step a bit to the left and center more like this one showing a bit of the wrap around on the right side instead of all flat front.

If you resubmit, be sure to include links to prove everything you say about this. Links are allowed in the supporting section. If you haven’t received a new email with an acceptance of the appeal in a day or two of posting this, I would resubmit.