Site Dwelling-Architectural Competition in Salir do Porto, Portugal

Located on the cliff of the bay of Salir do Porto, Portugal, Site Dwelling (a place of retreat engage with the landscape) is an exciting international architecture competition I had the privilege to design with my colleagues Architect Karim Kadri and Architect Eman Hirzallah.

Salir do Porto has a number of significant landmarks within a prominent landscape; it is a place of great cultural heritage and historical significance with characteristics that must be fully preserved.

When generating a vision for an intervention located within such a spectacular place, it is essential to emphasize, respect and celebrate the site, while providing visitors with a unique experience. Developing an architecture that imparts a strong and clear spirituality while maintaining the characteristics that must be fully preserved through its austere palette and simplicity of design.

With the objective of blessing the ships that left on a trip, the Capela de Santana was erected at one end of the Salir do Porto bar, it is one of the most important historical monuments of the area, with a magnificent view of the ocean. The 5x5x5 meter cube sits at the heart of ruins and reflects the surrounding landscape and sky. The panes of translucent glass diffuse the bright sunlight during the day, but allow the dome to glow like a beacon at night when the space is illuminated from within.

Preservation aims to keep the site or building in its existing state, saved from further decay. And in order to preserve the chapel, no excavation will be done under the ruins, the existing structure will stay untouched, and any development will be done in an underground level away from the ruins.

Engaging the visitors with the landscape by enforcing them to take a tour around the site, starting from path leading down the hill with the trees and the columns forming an informal vertical landscape, through glass box where the play of light and shadow animates the space and activates the senses, creating an intimate place of prayer and contemplation that serves the original purpose of the place, and in the towards the arch down the flight of stairs leading into a "cave-like" space becomes a dramatic and awe-inspiring place to retreat from the everyday life and leave it the next day empty as they found it. Although, our entry did not win; I am proud to share it with you.