The location for this project is in front of the Faculty of Architecture of Oporto. The program, a “Learning Center” like the Rolex Learning Center in Laussanne. As a public building, and for its scale,this project has a strong presence in the city landscape witch is know for its terraces.
With the development of the city these terraces have been disappearing being this is one of the few that remains in the city. Thereby the first problem is how to maintain the terraces and how to make the building a mark in the landscape respecting the environment. the second problem is how to articulate all the uses in the building.
With this two main big problems together the building uses the terraces as a theme, and a generous open space to articulate the other facilities. In order to accommodate the program is building is in three levels and from the entrance we can see all of them. The connection between the three levels is made with a ramp that slowly drive us through the building and make us contemplate the Douro river.

 

O Centro do Conhecimento enquadra-se num equipamento cultural cujo o público alvo é bastante alargado. Pretende ainda ter influencia urbana na cidade de forma a contribuir para a afirmação do Polo II do Campo Alegre como um espaço para a cidade numa zona claramente marcada pela mono-funcionalidade provocada pelas instituições universitárias.
Localizado no Porto, no Campo Alegre, à frente da Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto (FAUP), o edifício tem a sua implantação numa das encostas fortemente urbanizadas do Douro. O terreno é irregular, possui um promontório de dimensões consideráveis e possui alguns elementos arbóreos.

Many thanks to Carlos Albuquerque Castro who helped me with the renders and to Diogo Queirós with the presentation.