cannatà & fernandes architects: landscape laboratory

‘landscape laboratory’ by cannatà & fernandes architects, guimarães, 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, portugal. 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, by the presence of a water channel, dirt trails, 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.

inside, the main objective was to enhance the spatial character of the factory typology. an open space, bright and ready to embrace the new uses and demands of it’s functional program, through simple but rigorous adjustments. 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, utan and water deposits. towards the west, 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. elements in masonry stone were recovered, cleaned and replaced, the volumes constructed with brick, 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.

conceptual sketch

facade overlooking the riberia de selho

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

image © luis ferreira alves

images © luis ferreira alves

image © luis ferreira alves

location plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

site section

section

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