mezzo atelier transformed a formerly empty warehouse located in a residential area on the outskirts of the historic center ponta delgada, portugal, into ‘vaga – espaço de arte e conhecimento’. the cultural space consolidates the permanence of the anda&fala association in territory and in time and features a mix of modern and industrial design by the architects.

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 1
images by alexander bogorodskiy

 

 

mezzo atelier divided the space into the programmatic areas: workshop, gallery, house, following the pre-existing structure as well as the openings in the single volume façade. the main atrium, an extension of the street with a service and store area inserted in a wooden exhibition wall, opens to the gallery. the presentation space, with a foyer and two exhibition rooms that can accommodate projects in various disciplines, such as a focus on visual arts, through 4 pivoting doors that leave space to draw different ways to circulate.

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 2

 

 

laterally, the workshop and warehouse, with direct access to the street, give way to a space destined for creation and production, which gathers stations and areas with specialized equipment. the last slice of the volume gives way to the house, the domestic space of the vacancy. it includes the pre-existing office and expands to other multidisciplinary spaces that can be of work, meeting, or meals, and has two rooms to receive artists in residence.

 

 

 

 

color has revealed to play a fundamental role in the project, giving it character and clarity. a grayish-blue tone was chosen to standardize the façade and all its elements, as well as the pre-existing internal volume. it was also with the purpose of standardizing the interior, that all the ceiling and structural elements in wood and steel were painted in matt black.

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 3

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 4

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 5

 

 

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 6

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 7

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 8

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 9

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 10

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 11

vaga a new cultural space in ponta delgada by mezzo atelier 12

 

 

project info:

 

name: VAGA – espaço de arte e conhecimento

architects: mezzo atelier

location: ponta delgada, s. miguel island, azores, portugal

surface: 413 sqm (4,445.5 sqft)

photography: alexander bogorodskiy

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: yasmina karam | designboom