portugal images © luis ferreira alves
portuguese firm cannatà & fernandes architects have completed ‘landscape laboratory’
a rehabilitated building located in veiga de creixomil
southwest from the historic city center of guimarães
positioned within a sensitive area of high landscape value
the site is classified in accordance with the area’s municipal master plan as national ecological reserve (ren)
the morphology of the terrain is characterized by a relative difference of height
great visibility from surrounding areas and close proximity of large green masses
visibility from the motorway implied a series of interventions
also guaranteeing an element which distinguishes itself from the encompassing territory
the eastern access to the laboratory was created by the demolition of small roofs initially forming the separation of the building by the creation of a reception square and porte-cochere
leading the visitor through a promenade to the main entrance in contact with the most impressive moment of the building: the facade oriented towards the water front ribeira de selho
the main objective was to enhance the spatial character of the factory typology
bright and ready to embrace the new uses and demands of it’s functional program
the division of the different functional modules follows the structure of the roofs in order to establish a balance between the different spaces with the structure and character of the pre-existing
towards the east side i the necessary technical area for the boiler
the original volumes in the upper floor that were in a state of ruin were rearranged and reconstructed
the proposal aimed to recover the architectural character of the existing building and at the same time
with the new roof and the volumetric reconstructions
affirm the contemporaneity of a rehabilitation
the ensemble highlights and accurately identifies the various intervention stages without producing ambiguities or distortions of the history of the building
or other materials in an advanced state of decay and new volumes were replaced with white concrete
the diverse material palette allows a reading of changes in time and use
eastern entry image © luis ferreira alves
retained original masonry contrasts the white concrete repairs images © luis ferreira alves
(left) series of gabled roofs reconstructed with concrete (right) interior maintains the volumes delineated by the roofs images © luis ferreira alves
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