2011 / PT - Marinha Grande
Competition project; not built
Client: Câmara Municipal da Marinha Grande
Authorship: Nuno Graça Moura
Collaboration: Carlos Castro, Pedro Gonçalves
Engineering: A400 - Projectistas e Consultores de Engenharia Civil, Lda.
Given the uncertainty of the surroundings, we propose an autonomous building, whose scale adapts to the place marked by the presence of the stadium, its surrounding areas and some industrial buildings. A perimeter wall in painted concrete defines the construction of a rectangular floor plan. The horizontal line of the outer wall contrasts the space of the main vaulted nave, which houses the pools. It is entirely covered with ceramic mosaic. Its brightness and reflections emphasize the contrast with the outer wall. This central space, inspired by the baths of antiquity, will be uniformly and pleasantly illuminated by the natural zenith light, resulting from a grid of very small openings. A regular sequence of windows allows visual contact with an outdoor patio, which, like the other planned patios, complements the light and ventilation needs of the interior spaces. An intimate, protected environment was sought, but with a constant controlled presence from the outside.
© Nuno Graça Moura