Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos

24
Jan 2012
Uploaded by — Filed under: Cultural ,Featured ,Selected , , , ,
 
  • Emailshare by email

© FG + SG architectural photography

Architects: SAMI-arquitectos – Inês Vieira da Silva, Miguel Vieira
Location: Criação Velha, Pico Island, , Portugal
Property, Owner of the building: Governo Regional dos Açores. Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar. Direcção Regional do Ambiente
Project Year: 2005
Photographs: FG + SG architectural photography

© FG + SG architectural photography

The Gruta das Torres, which is a volcanic cave located on Pico Island in the Azores, was classified as a Regional Natural Monument in 2004.

© FG + SG architectural photography

With the decision to open it to the public it became necessary to construct a building to support visitors, but one which would also protect the skylight of the entrance to the cave. The architectural project sought to simultaneously achieve both aims by means of an undulating stone wall which transformed into an intricate lacework at the point of contact with the building. This provides an entrance of light which is both filtered and continuous, permitting the uniform illumination of the interior and avoiding the necessity for other openings.

© FG + SG architectural photography

With the exception of this wall the building is coated with an impermeable black finish in order to complement the colour and texture of the vitrified lava within the cave.

east elevation

In the presence of so strong a landscape our aim was to integrate the building, notwithstanding its contemporary design, within the scale, nature and context of its surroundings.

 

 

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.

Cite:
King , Victoria . "Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos" 24 Jan 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed 23 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/200840>

 
 
 
Thumb up Thumb down 0
jeb says:

everything about this is great!
you don’t get many sections like this one.

Reply
 
# January 24, 2012 at 09:34
Thumb up Thumb down 0
escargamour says:

Immensely satisfying

Reply
 
# January 25, 2012 at 07:43
Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:07 AM Jan 24th

Bocetos Digitales

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography
Architects: SAMI-arquite… http://t.co/bOimDvN9

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:07 AM Jan 24th

店つくなう

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography
Architects: SAMI-arquite… http://t.co/FSvNFCOg

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:08 AM Jan 24th

Sigit Kusumawijaya

[Architecture Info] Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/r46SvlcM | via #ArchDaily

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:20 AM Jan 24th

ruj rattanapahu

ชอบจริง ๆ >>> Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos | ArchDaily http://t.co/7nm5nFwI via @archdaily

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:22 AM Jan 24th

GR2TF

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography
Architects: SAMI-arquite… http://t.co/o0eFB1JB

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:28 AM Jan 24th

Archifront

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography… http://t.co/T5oTvM0O

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:29 AM Jan 24th

Paule!

Cave House! Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos | ArchDaily http://t.co/DUVpVfeB

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:35 AM Jan 24th

ArchitecturePassion

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography
Architects: SAMI-arquite… http://t.co/suKy7aLz

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:35 AM Jan 24th

Architecture+Molding

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: Architects: SAMI-arquitectos – Inês Vieira da Silva, Miguel … http://t.co/5hZygFLZ

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:56 AM Jan 24th

arch_related

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography
Architects: SAMI-arquite… http://t.co/ungohGsd

Thumb up Thumb down 0

12:15 PM Jan 24th

Nozomi Kobayashi

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos | ArchDaily http://t.co/OHOwbjv6 @archdaily

Thumb up Thumb down 0

12:21 PM Jan 24th

Erik Joya

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: © FG + SG architectural photography… http://t.co/GuNMoZfk

Thumb up Thumb down 0

12:33 PM Jan 24th

petroula

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/Qhfvjljs via @archdaily

Thumb up Thumb down 0

1:23 PM Jan 24th

him + her

Architecture Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos: Architects: SAMI-arquitectos – In… http://t.co/itBDD8R2 #architecture

Thumb up Thumb down 0

10:29 AM Jan 25th

Santi Maggio Savasta

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/UCrTQyKF #Architecture #Architettura

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:06 AM Jan 25th

raphael betillon

Definir o belo é não o compreender. Fernando Pessoa http://t.co/hM0us9lz

Thumb up Thumb down 0

12:03 PM Jan 25th

DELB Jérôme-Olivier

Definir o belo é não o compreender. Fernando Pessoa http://t.co/hM0us9lz

Thumb up Thumb down 0

8:54 PM Jan 25th

quatroestudio

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/oQhhM0Z0
#Q4 #Arquitectura

Thumb up Thumb down 0

3:34 AM Jan 28th

余 威廷

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/gbDibEvH via @archdaily http://t.co/nX2q6Dy9

Thumb up Thumb down 0

3:34 AM Jan 28th

余 威廷

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/gbDibEvH via @archdaily http://t.co/nX2q6Dy9

Thumb up Thumb down 0

8:09 AM Jan 28th

bxlrio

#Archi Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos http://t.co/vwafTIDf

Thumb up Thumb down 0

12:03 PM Jan 29th

simina ioana

Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos | ArchDaily http://t.co/FrjhDvUE via @archdaily

Thumb up Thumb down 0

11:00 AM Feb 1st

Amelia Cazorla

¿Un paseo por las Islas Azores? Centro de visistantes de la Gruta das Torres ¡Amazing! #viajar #azores #arquitectura http://t.co/rO1AJ0kp

Leave a Reply »

 

Latest Comments »

Shota Ban on Giveaway: Win a copy of Alvar Aalto: The Mark of the Hand, by Harry Charrington and Vezio Nava
Viipuri Library[+]
seoulster on In Progress: Seoul New City Hall / iArc Architects
The building is an essay in how not to design a civic...[+]
vahid torabi on Reflections / Daniel Libeskind
one of the best of him.. but a huge complex needs more images & details.[+]
Jonatan Lige on Giveaway: Win a copy of Alvar Aalto: The Mark of the Hand, by Harry Charrington and Vezio Nava
Riola Parish...[+]
Tegnestue on The Carlsberg Brewhouse Project Competition Finalists
Hey even i want to visit this place.[+]

Upcoming Architecture Events »

got events? invite us! click here

Architecture Books & Magazines »

London Unfurled / Matteo Pericoli

London Unfurled / Matteo Pericoli

If you haven’t finished all your holiday shopping, and you need something for someone who loves both architecture and London then we might have the right gift for you. We recently received Matteo Pericoli’s London Unfurled. This accordion-style book folds out…

Read More / Buy now »
 

Construction Manual for Polymers + Membranes / Knippers, Cremers, Gabler, Lienhard

Construction Manual for Polymers + Membranes / Knippers, Cremers, Gabler, Lienhard

From the history of plastics and membranes in architecture to their material properties and requirements in construction and design, the Construction Manual for Polymers + Membranes cuts to the chase, providing the kind of solid and comprehensive overview of…

Read More / Buy now »
 

Urban Interventions / Vallo Sadovsky Architects

Urban Interventions / Vallo Sadovsky Architects

Vallo Sadovsky Architects recently sent us their latest book, Urban Interventions. We have featured one of Vallo Sadovsky Architects’ projects before, BA_LIK. That project gets to the heart of what this book is about. Small urban interventions can completely transform and…

Read More / Buy now »
 

Our partners »

AD on iPad via Pulse

Browse by date »

Browse by category »

Friends »