Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools

M-Arquitectos

SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

LOCATION
Furnas, Portugal

TYPE
Hospitality + Sport › Wellness/Spa, Landscape + Planning › Urban Green Space Waterway/Wetland

PHOTO
Paulo Goulart (28)

BUDGET
$100K - 500K

STATUS
Built

YEAR
2015

“Poça da Dona Beija” reconfiguration has improved the security conditions and the preservation of the complexity of this natural resource.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

“Dona Beija” has been one of most popular places in São Miguel's Island, Azores, in last few years.

For this reason, some of its existent materials weren’t adequate for the enormous affluence and has become necessary to replace its whole walkway pavement with local wooden deck panels – japanese cedar or cryptomeria locally called.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

In our point of view, the regional's natural materials approach is an important way to have a better union between the natural and human interventions.

In another word, two constructions were demolished, the ticket box office and a temporary volume, which were located in the main entrance of the complex.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

Therefore a new building was designed to replace and optimize the entrance way such as the lobby.

In terms of architectural shape the new construction seeks a balanced relationship with the surroundings.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

To this end, we proposed a building based on a parallel sense to the existing south wall, and a sloped roof coated with crytomeria timber.

The interior spaces are made of timber-clad and the carpentry in crytomeria's wood.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

We designed a ticket box, staff washroom, a storage space and gift shop.

In order to avoid the occupation of public water domain, the implementation of the new building results from minimum distance of 7 meters recommended from the river's edge.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

Our intervention also consists of two new pools, a tank and foot bath, in a view to increase the capacity of the thermal area of “Dona Beija”.

These new pools are located on the north river's edge and they were built according the existing structures and their access is provided by a footbridge in metallic structure and coated with timber-clad.

Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart

The lighting network was carefully inserted in order to view the different wooden paths and naturalness of the surrounding ambience in the night hours, through an indirect lighting.


Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart


Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
© Paulo Goulart


Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools


Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools


Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools


Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools
Poça da D.Beija Thermal Pools