Like someone travel for wine and delicious food, the others to see the beauty of Greek temples, so I'm travelling and observing architecture that creates space around us, the space in which we live. In my travel ways to objective pre-architectural aims it left a strong memory of the city Sinnes. A small Portuguese fishing town south of Lisbon, with buildings oriented to the sea, with life centred on him. The ocean here has always been the main objective observation of the local people. This relationship is an example of a close connection with the ocean and Portuguese culture that emerged from it. Portuguese like to watch the sea silently, staring dreamily into the ocean far away from the seats of their cars and their advertisement often like to appropriate this theme.
I was travelling for the Centro de Artes and found a beautiful city. On the main entrance point to the city to centre is built by the architecture office Aires Mateus modern Cento de Artes. This place in city is taking the main role to link the historical and modern part of the city. Centro de Artes contains the variety of activities generating unique place: exhibition spaces, library, reading room, concert hall, auditorium, various small rooms, computer laboratories, historical archives and occasional café space under the roof with the overview across the city on the ocean.
The building from outside impression as the historic walls which grows from four longitudinal base materials with embedded atriums. Individual floors are suspended like bridge structures along the lines of the exterior walls. This design allows complete freedom in the basement and spatial variability and in the ground undisturbed views across the building and connection to life outside. The robustness of the building is playing with the light transparency of individual spaces and vistas between the exterior and interior.
Pedestrian street to center walks through the house, when the ground floor is the interior of entry and libraries connected with the street by glazed belt along the entire height of buildings on human’s high. Street is extended into the interior. Sitting inside the ground floor perceive the outside pedestrians and vice versa. Enter from the street to the Centro de Artes by a small subtle bridge offer to visitor grasp the principle laid out space in all its glory. Vista to the underground to gallery can visitor decides where to go.
The architects created a light rigid shell for fine naturally bright white interior. The walls and the ceilings are white, on the floors shine white marble. It's the perfect play of light and different heights of the spaces inside. Transit of natural light into the underground exhibition space is incredible. In summer time the spaces below street level acts as an illuminated caves. From the basement you can see through vistas blue sky and also unexpected touch to ceiling, thanks to the low heights of small exhibition spaces. The main auditorium is height on the whole height of one block. Going through the install exhibitions by ramps connecting the individual levels, not even one noticed that pass beneath the street and is located on the other side. On the whole program of the art center is a wonderful free entry into with a variable range offer throughout the whole year. It is a place with charge and energy. www.centrodeartesdesines.com.pt