aires mateus sculpts monolithic meeting center in southern portugal

lisbon-based architecture studio aires mateus has completed a monolithic white structure that serves as a community meeting center. situated in grândola, a small town in portugal’s setúbal district, the project is not only defined by its monochromatic color scheme, but also by the dramatic apertures cut into its façades. photographed here by nelson garrido, two recessed voids on each elevation relate to the scale and location of the surrounding buildings, helping to define the structure’s mass.

all images by nelson garrido

led by brothers manuel and francisco, aires mateus has ensured that the community center is capable of hosting large gatherings as well as smaller groups. these programmatic requirements informed the schemes interior layout, with modestly sized rooms at the building’s perimeter surrounding a more substantial volume at the center of the plan.

the monolithic white structure serves as a community meeting center

the ceiling responds to the spaces it contains with a sharply undulating overhead terrain. openings in the roof, in addition to the façade’s carefully positioned apertures, guarantee that the entire structure is brightly and naturally illuminated. recently longlisted as part of the doha art mill competition, aires mateus previously completed a rural holiday home in southern portugal using board formed concrete.

the project is located in grândola, a small town in portugal’s setúbal district

the project is defined by its monochromatic color scheme

the ceiling responds to the spaces it contains with a sharply undulating overhead terrain

the community center is capable of hosting large gatherings as well as smaller groups

carefully positioned apertures guarantee that the entire structure is brightly illuminated

recessed voids on each elevation relate to the scale and location of the surrounding buildings

dramatic apertures have been cut into the structure’s façades

project info:

name: meeting centre in grândola
client: santa casa da misericórdia de grândola
location: grândola, portugal
date of project: 2011 – 2012
date of construction: 2012 – 2016
surface area: 670 sqm / 7,212 sqf
building area: 670 sqm / 7,212 sqf
site area: 670 sqm / 7,212 sqf

authors: manuel aires mateus, francisco aires mateus
project leader: jorge p. silva
collaborators: marco campolongo, matteo foresti, előd golicza
photography: nelson garrido
engineering: axial / três cês
constructor: manuel mateus frazão

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