Minho, Portugal : Nicholas Burns

Nicholas Burns : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2009

Guimaraes Chapel, Minho, Portugal

Completed 2019

[ chapel, rural, sculptural, insitutu concrete, landscape, ‘corten’ steel, natural light ]

This new chapel in Minho, Portugal, by Nicholas Burns, is part of an ongoing transformation of a sprawling private estate into a bespoke, architecturally coherent environment. Burns has spent the past three years working on this 30-hectare site, and the chapel, featuring a sweeping concrete roof, is the latest element. The first venture was a pool house and the client then wanted to add a meditation room. During the design process, the family acquired a 17th-century altar piece , which transformed a meditative space into a chapel. There is a spiritual connection with the site. Hefty rocks and a scattering of oak trees defined the site; the new building had to acknowledge these. The structure is assembled as a carefully staged sequence of spaces and views, starting from the approach via inset stone slabs that lead to the chapel across a reflecting pool that frames the site. Finished in smooth, raw concrete, the triangular form of the chapel rises up from the hillside, announced by a thin sliver of a wall that makes a stark backdrop to the surrounding oaks. Its geometry is pinched and slender, concealing the bulk of the chapel. The building is not readable as a whole from any angle, it is partially hidden in the landscape, with the internal spaces revealed in the journey around and through it. The stepping stones also provide an alternate entrance to the Meditation Room, which has a single window overlooking the water, boulders and sky to create a quiet, reflective space. The building’s ceremonial entrance is through a Corten steel ‘tunnel’, a tight, cave-like sequence that amplifies the lofty drama of the chapel beyond. Steps lead up to the chapel itself, with a line of candles in cylindrical stone holders. At the end, set beneath a gently curving roof, is the original altar piece, weathered and wondrous and standing in complex contrast to the minimal chairs and limestone floor and walls.

Designer : Nicholas Burns

Studio Nicholas Burns, Bali and Australia

Photography : Peter Bennetts

Web site : www.nicholas-burns.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org

Lindsay Johnston18 May 2020

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org