Parliament for the North Region of Portugal, Braga

The project is a propose for a hypothetical construction of a parliament in the North region of Portugal in Braga. The designed building provides a space that can be identified by the population as the representation hall and democracy home of the region. Light, perception, materiality, nature and scale are some of the concepts that make this possible.

The project aims to create a urban space with a public-front square and a park that dialogues with the green areas planned in Braga. This improves the initial place where the parliament is located and dignifies the whole environment.\nThe representative function of the building is shown in the great access and communication hall. Most important rooms due to its function, including the parliament main hall are located in this space, so it can visible and noticed in first place. Many different uses can take place in this representative space due to its size and design, from public meetings to expositions or even concerts or lunch.\nThe great hall is captured by a superstructure of metallic frames with several functions: light and thermal control (the atrio is kept in shadows during the warm seasons), structural meanings, introduction of variability in perception (can be seen as a solid or it’s possible to look through depending the point of view), integration of illumination, conditioning, fire protection and rainwater evacuation systems…\nThe hall is open in its heads, so the park that surrounds the building can enters the space. The integration of nature makes perfect continuity between inside and outside and makes democratic function more visible.\nOffices, administration, and daily used spaces are designed in a more comfortable scale, so workers and politicians will find their work places friendly and functional.\nAll the areas are related to the public atrio. The uses are organised into two different parts: political and representative zone and administrative. Restricted program is located in upper floors. Special access and vertical communications are set in independent way for members and general public.