Barbosa & Guimarães

Municipal Pools of Povoação

MUNICIPAL POOLS OF POVOAÇÃO

Barbosa & Guimarães

Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand

ARCHITECTS
Barbosa & Guimarães / José António Barbosa & Pedro Lopes Guimarães

PHOTOGRAPHS
João Ferrand

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Povoação, Portugal

CATEGORY
Swimming Pool

Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand

Text description provided by architect.

The village of Povoação is located on the Archipelago of the Azores, on the southern edge of the island of S. Miguel.

Protected from the sea by a slope, the building is going to occupy a plot comprised of a flat, rectangular platform already prepared and used by the Municipal Council for other outdoor sports activities. This platform was achieved by «sacrificing» the slope, imposing a cut that distorts its natural volume.

Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand
Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand

The project takes advantage of the existing cut to construct the building along its length, seeking a «fusion» between the new construction and the surrounding landscape.

Its volume is fragmented and «runs», forming masses of black basalt, which correspond to the various functional groups of the programme.

The coverings are «contaminated» by the green of the surrounding fields, punctuated by skylights, which ensure natural lighting of the interior spaces.

Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand
Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand

A square of basalt gives physical support to the building, defining courses and accesses around an Araucaria, whose verticality and symbolic load announce and upgrade this new public space.

Inside, the programme is organised from the competition and training tanks, maintaining basalt as the dominant element in the entire composition. 

On the upper floor, an outdoor esplanade supporting the bar looks out to sea.

Municipal Pools of Povoação
© João Ferrand


Municipal Pools of Povoação
Details 01
Municipal Pools of Povoação
Details 02


Municipal Pools of Povoação
Section 01
Municipal Pools of Povoação
Section 02
Municipal Pools of Povoação
Section 03
Municipal Pools of Povoação
North Elevation


Municipal Pools of Povoação
Ground Floor Plan
Municipal Pools of Povoação
Site Plan
Municipal Pools of Povoação
Cchanging Room Plan
Municipal Pools of Povoação
Location Plan

Barbosa & Guimarães
T +351 229 363022 F +351 229 363024
Barbosa & Guimarães
Rua de Brito Capelo 1023 4450, 4450-077 Matosinhos, Portugal