On the Edge. Expantion and adaptation of Sanctuary and Guesthouse for a Soothing Venue. Cabo Espichel, Portugal.

The project is an answer to a constantly rushing pace of life and a never stopping flow of information with simultaneous negligence of the essence of humanity. The author proposes creation of a Soothing Venue for the people on the edge of a breakdown both physical and emotional.

The project involves the issues of architectural design and conservation such as: adaptation of a ruin for a reception and office rooms, restoration of a Guesthouse, adaptation and expantion of a preexisting Opera House and construction of a new object devoted to library, restaurant, workshop room and bath spot. Such functions assorted in a careful way would ensure a financial ballance of sanctuary and at the same time would fit into the ambiente of the place. Along the creative process there was a need to use such means of architectural expression that would just emphasize the austerity and ascetic of the venue.The essence of the project is: SILENCE LIGHT SHADOW BREATH VASTNESS RECEPTION BUILDING Reception and office building is a gate to an alternative axis that leads us directly to a new building on a cliff. OPERA HOUSE The intervention consisted of designing a roof and rearranging space in a functional way. GUESTHOUSE One of the reintroduced functions is a guesthouse. So as to adapt to a small and not well illuminated space I designed moveable dormitory units so as to arrange space in any way. GARDEN IN THE RUINS While designing the Garden in the Ruins the key point was emphasising the idea of evanescence and its acceptation. I propose implementation of various corten platforms to create intime pleces that favour contemplating the nature. NEW BUILDINGS ON A CLIFF A challenge was to to design a new building that would fit in restaurant, library and workshop rooms. It would be hidden in 6m slope so as not to interfere with historical buildings and harmonise with the nature. With the same attitude I designed a building that would be a thermal baths with pools in infinite technology. The west exposure favours contemplating the views especially during sunsets. The project was created in a direct relation with surrounding nature that determined all the technological and architectural solutions that I proposed ( e.g. underground wind turbines) and besides that all the materials are natural and local (e.g. a mixture of cork and epoxy to insulate existing walls).