The project „On the edge. Expantion and adaptation of Sanctuary and Guesthouse for a Soothing Venue. Cabo Espichel, Portugal.” is an answer to a constanly 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 touches various issues of the adaptation of a historical complex and implementation of a new building into an existing tissue without sploiling the identity of a 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.
SILENCE LIGHT SHADOW BREATH VASTNESS is a set of words that from the very beginning were essence of the project.
Cabo Espichel is located on Iberian Penisula, in Portugal. It is located 49km from Lisbon and 16km from Sesimbra, the nearest city historically connected with Cabo Espichel. The project assumes reintroducing the prexesisting functions such as: guesthouse, opera house, bakery and eking out the programme with elements that would merge all the complex: reception, offices, library with archives, workshop room, restaurant and a soothing 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 ambient of the place. 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 an Opera House and construction of a new object devoted to library, restaurant, workshop room and bath spot. The author proposes solutions of sustainable architecture, introducing the renewable energy systems with a simultaneous preservation of the ascetic character of a place.
The Board:
