sulphur cavern, visitor center by nuno ribeiro lopes
all photos by sara potes courtesy nuno ribeiro lopes


portugese architect nuno ribeiro lopes was commisioned to redesign a visitor's center
for the sulphur cavern  ex-libris graciosa island, to accommodate the increased interest
in the area.

the glass building is lined by craters, built on a platform, suspended above the water line
on the surface. consisting of two floors, the ground floor buried in the platform contains
sanitary facilities and an exhibition area. located on the top floor are the foyer area,
inside the cavern the visitors’ control and the air quality, the toilets for disabled people
and the area reserved for the dissemination, awareness and observation of the landscape.
outside and in front of the building, in the old car park, lies a living area with tables and chairs.
given the restrictions of access, under the control of air quality, visitors can watch from
the roof of the building, projected on the platform cavern.

project info:
location: graciosa island - portugal
client: regional secretariat for the environment and the sea
project date: 2006
construction date: 2009-2010
engineering: triede - PEN
address: furna do enxofre