Anel d’Artes

In the so-called 'Parque das Gaivotas', originally a beach space, the area was converted in the 1990s into a car park to serve tourists.

The choice of location was due to its centrality and its relationship with the Avenida do Brasil, as well as the need to be located in a port jurisdiction area, outside the Ecological Reserve relative domain.  

The location in the context of the transition from the city to Praia da Claridade oriented the shape, looking for a neutral but significant volume. The extension of the beach, the relationship with the horizon and the privileged location, demanded an iconic object with urban and social expression.

A circular ring materializes the building form – a laminar cover suspended at low height above the sand. The built presence is minimized by modeling the terrain into a new topographic solution that only exposes the coverage and makes the entire program half-buried. An artificial dune hides the building exposing the cover. This lowering hides the program, controls natural light, lowers its acoustic expression and protects the inner space from the prevailing winds.  

The building presents itself as a unit that welcomes diversity. A multipurpose and non-hierarchical space is proposed, marking a local and regional centrality.

The radial organization defines three entrances and exits, fulfilling the safety requirements. To the south is the main entrance, in direct relation to the current parking lot and the avenue.

The construction system features reinforced concrete pillars and walls that support a metal roof with translucent polycarbonate panels. The concrete wall is moulded into triangular panels for better acoustic behaviour.

This is a large covered public square, in the middle of the beach.