![Gruta do Escoural / Nuno Simões + DNSJ.arq - Image 1 of 17](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/51f7/d33e/e8e4/4e62/5700/0106/newsletter/053.jpg?1375195961)
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Architects: Nuno Simões + DNSJ.arq
- Year: 2011
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Photographs:Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
![Gruta do Escoural / Nuno Simões + DNSJ.arq - Stairs, Forest](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/51f7/d32f/e8e4/4e62/5700/0104/newsletter/009.jpg?1375195946)
Text description provided by the architects. The assignment was to build a new structureto replacethe former temporary structure wich was in very poor condition and a new antechamber. The antechamber, needed to control the thermal exchanges,was tougt like a new “perfect rock” among the others existing ones.
![Gruta do Escoural / Nuno Simões + DNSJ.arq - Stairs](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/51f7/d359/e8e4/4e62/5700/010a/newsletter/096.jpg?1375195989)
The main concernsof the structure to allow visitors inside the cave, was to beable torunaclean and dry construction, considering the impossibility of usingconstruction techniquesthat would requireweldingand / orin situconcreteand the use ofenduringmaterialscapable of withstandingthe passage of timein aparticularly hostileenvironment. We decided that thisstructure should be opaque andblackin sharp contrastwith thelight color of thelimestone cave.
![](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/51f7/d38c/e8e4/4ef7/d400/00fc/newsletter/Antechamber_Plans.jpg?1375196040)