Rehabilitation of an abandoned factory in Guimarães:

The proposal focuses on a premise of minimal intervention, in order to provide space for independent structures and ensuring its use as a space for workshops and exhibition space, but having the possibility to be used in the future for other functions, preserving the historical heritage facilities, transforming the structure as a "landmark" in its own right.
The first sensation in the site of the building, was that, for its size and alignment in the street, it functioned as a "wall" to the landscape that opens to the interior of the block, only revealed when accessing the interior of the building. In order to create transparency between the street and the landscape, and still maintain the character of the avenue, all the exterior walls of the building were demolished - except retaining walls - creating a glass "box" that involves the main facades of the building. This transparency also allows it to be possible to watch the internal activities from the street, ending the hermetic character of the street and revealing the landscape of Guimarães.

The program of the "Building A" will focus primarily on two areas - an exhibition one, which comprises
the 1st floor in the northern part, turned into the entrance foyer which remains as a space without fixed program and can accommodate, exhibitions, fairs, specific interventions etc. The 2nd floor is transformed into " Architecture Warehouse", home to all those models abandoned in the architecture offices, explaining the design process. The southern part of the 1st floor and ground floor harbor a workshop space. A structure was created from curtains and lights that provide the space of elements that may divide it. The roof of the building, given the proximity of the quota of the street is recovered as public space, with access via a ramp from the Avenue. Area of excellence, where you have a panoramic view of the city​​, is complemented with the building where the offices functioned at the old factory, now transformed into small a cafeteria / restaurant and commercial space / bookstore.

In entitled "Building B", the roof and most of the walls are removed, resulting in a garden. During the visit, the place presented a very striking vision of nature taking over the building. We intended to preserve this ambiance in Building B, which can be understood as the continuation of the interior space of the block. It is presented a proposal to use the interior of the block, with fundamental focus on creating new green spaces, which combine leisure, outdoor activities, big enough to attract different ages and social groups, creating at the same time a connection between different points in the city.
In the garden we added small housing units, that can provide a temporary stay for workers, artists in residence, students etc.. Taking advantage of the products offered by sponsoring brands, the units are fully covered with tiles, an idea that came from a covering tile technique, observed several times in city of Guimarães and now adapted to contemporaneity.

Project Manager: Michele Cannatà and Fátima Fernandes . Designed in collaboration with Nuno Castro, Dario Cannatà and Mariana Lopes.