Português

info

Coimbra, Portugal
2003
Coimbra's University

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 This Project presentes, as an external image - that is to say a public and collective image - the use of two materials (concrete and glass) which in functional characteristics of internal space emerge opaque or transparent, structural or revetment.

The use of these materials marks out clear volumetrys, according with different spaces, the functional needs, the energectical potentialitys, and capability to characterize in an architectonic way, the different planes of the building fronts.

The unlevelled morphology of the soil and the compact vegetation sugested a functional and volumetric articulation facing accentuation, preservation and highlighting of these preexistent marks.

The conceptual option of this project was directed to build simple relation constructions, of clear perceptions between the different space categorys through plane geometry of functions and connection between planes and voids using, in the new place construction the preexistent vegetation.

The building intends to show an image of an hanging volume over a scanty afforested territory, that still exists in the Universitary Campus, and to preserve the natural morphology of the ground.

A volume that allows visual contact penetration from the four sides of the lot, establishes a variety of functional articulations from streets different quotas. The thickness of this volume, defined by the lot, is two floors.

Two minor volumes, grounded almost as a support of the large parallelepiped, composes the articulation between the lot and the display of superior levels. One of the volumes, made from iron and glass, includes the hall in articulation with the remaining spaces, bar and students association offices. The other volume in apparent concrete, includes the auditorium and the amphitheatre, assuring an autonomous entry heading North, in articulation with the equipment facility heading West.

Commercial facilitys, made from iron and glass, are thought as volumes completely autonomous, which are implanted with slight adaptations from the pending of the landscape. Their parallel location to N street, privileges a relation with students residences that still are in a project stage.

Big yards heading North/ South, offer big emptys inside the building volume favouring lighting and natural ventilation from inner spaces. It also offers thermal control in the whole building.

Inside inner yards, tall trees search for a remembrance between preexistent vegetation and the new Universitary buildings.

The roof foresees a vegetal covering in order to extend green spaces, to optimise thermal isolation conditions of the building and to inprove visual effects of the superior quota located buildings.

The hall entrance, characterized by the tranparency of the construction material, allows a great external view, guiding users from distance. At the same time, this feature emphasizes a glow of fluidity to the space.

The idea of setting the soil free, appellant in modern architecture history, thanks to the possibilitys that construction technics have to offer, wants to express a project attitude undoubtedly directed to the need of recovering natural support and to enlarge the posibilitys of collective use of the space.