Today I’m sharing my first lot in Tartosa and my first project in Renaissance style — a fondaco.
A fondaco was a special type of building that existed in Renaissance Venice (and partly in Florence) for foreign merchants. Foreigners were not allowed to buy or rent housing in the city, yet trade was flourishing and merchants often stayed for long periods. So the municipality built dedicated complexes that combined living quarters, offices, trading spaces and places to relax under one roof.
Since Tartosa has very few lots, I decided to make some of them multifunctional. This one is exactly that kind of lot.
What’s inside:
Ground floor — trading area and osteria
Upper floors — 4 living rooms
Basement — kitchen and storage
In the decor I tried to capture the Renaissance spirit both outside and inside. Finally I could use plants in the interiors — during the Renaissance this practice was just starting to become fashionable. Citrus trees in pots were especially popular (the Medici family introduced the trend): in summer they were taken out onto the terraces, in winter brought back indoors. People also actively grew fragrant herbs on balconies, terraces and even rooftops — Venice simply had no space for proper gardens, so they greened everything they could.
For the interiors I relied on typical Renaissance combinations: marble, terracotta plaster and a clear aspiration toward antiquity. Windows became larger — Venetian glass was already available (though still quite expensive).
I decorated the living rooms in different styles, imagining that Sims from all over the Sims world could live here. There’s even a room in Eastern style. And yes… I couldn’t resist putting a hookah in there. Historically it’s a bit early for that, of course, but let the Sims have this kind of entertainment too.
Ways to use the lot
I’ll tell you how I set it up and also offer a few alternatives in case my version doesn’t suit you.
1. Residential lot with a business (my setup)
It has a “Bar” business + the mod “My Little Neighborhood” by LittleMsSam. The mod spawns visitors and vendors at the stalls, and the business itself also actively generates guests. The result is a very lively lot that’s comfortable to play both as the owner and as a visitor. If you also want proper trading, you can place cash registers on the tables and, with the mod “Functional Registers” by Down-in-simsland, spawn vendors who will sell specific categories of goods.
2. Restaurant
Everything needed is already on the lot: waiter and host stands + two chef stations. I tested this option — it works fine. In this case I’d recommend removing the furniture from the living rooms (so the lot isn’t overloaded) and replacing the trading wing with restaurant tables.
3. Rental
If you’re not afraid of rental lots, you can use the mod “Use Residential Rentals shared areas as Community Lots” by DownInSimsland. Shared areas become full community lots, and you can spawn vendors at the stalls, bartenders and visitors. The mod is very flexible and excellent.
4. Retail lot
You can place cash registers, remove the osteria and move food and product stalls there — and the lot will function as a full retail space.
It all depends on what you most want to see in your game.
If anyone knows other mods that allow making lots multifunctional and work well, please let me know — this topic is really interesting to me!
Technical information:
Location: Tartosa
Lot size: 40×20
Game version: 1.126.73.1030
Required cheat: bb.moveobjects on
In the attachment you will find the tray files and a list with links to all the CC content.
Family vacation photos with twin toddlers. Toddlers are redheadsims preset stage 3, mum is the shortest preset and dad is the second tallest. You can download them on my drive called “IdaSims - Vacation (family)”. Pictures are taken in beautiful Tartosa!!
Btw follow my sims instagram @idasimz if you want!
