MAAVC

MAAVC
© Claudio Reis

MAAVC

Camilo Rebelo + Tiago Pimentel

PHOTOGRAPHS
Claudio Reis

AREA
8121.31 sqm

PROJECT YEAR
2009

CATEGORY
Museum

LOCATION
Vila Nova De Foz Côa, Portugal

To build the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Côa Valley we connected different parameters: topography, accessibilities and program.

MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis

The fusion of these aspects was highly important for the concept definition – to conceive a museum as an installation on the landscape.

The topography was crucial in our decisions since we had to deal with an enormous difference between the museum entrance and the interior of the building.

MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis

The arrival is made at the top of this topography and that was one of the reasons to create a platform, a terrace, a belvedere – the stage scenario is the huge and impressive landscape with mountains and valleys.

The arrival, a contemplation moment and a parking space as well – is at the same time the museum entrance.

The body strategy, in relation to topography, is natural; this means that the platform assumes the same level of the street that ends on the building while the terrain goes down along the side walls showing, in the front elevation, the total height of the volume.

MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis

On the higher level of the terrain, the monolithic triangular form is a direct result of the valley’s confluences. This triangular body happens in the middle line of the two valleys, facing them (Vale de José Esteves and Vale do Forno) – the third side faces the crossing of Douro and Côa rivers.

Its materiality evokes the local stone yards and reflects two different natures: the concrete’s matter and the local stone’s texture and colour.

MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis

For the building expression we decided to use concrete made with shale pigment (local stone) – the concrete’s texture was made with several molds that were extracted directly from the existing rocks.


MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis© Claudio Reis
MAAVC
© Claudio Reis


MAAVC
model 01
MAAVC
model 02


MAAVC
plan 01
MAAVC
plan 02
MAAVC
plan 03


MAAVC
elevations


MAAVC
sections 01
MAAVC
sections 02