- New alliances
In this idea of Architecture of the Future, I recognize that the castle of Mourão has the potential to provide a shelter linked to culture and astronomy, with the aim of connecting the village-castle-lake establishing a new centrality in the Castle-Observatory. Aware of the abandonment of the interior regions of Portugal and the problems of degradation of the military architectural heritage, this idea intends that the intervention in the fortification of Village of Mourão, which is based on the idea of palimpsest, adds a new purpose and a new use to the castle and therefore a new spatial organization, in order to justify its rehabilitation, interconnecting military architecture and science with tradition, making it cohabited again, encouraging tourism on the route of the castles in Raia and on the route of the astronomical observatories , through the creation of an Astronomical Observatory, and thus last in time.
The fortification of Mourão (12th century) located at the top of the hill stands as a landmark of the surrounding landscape, confronted in height only by the Monsaraz fortification on the opposite side of the lake of Alqueva, which once was a vigilant shelter, today it is sought for being a dominant level point and where it is possible from the castle to contemplate the 360o surroundings, day and night, in a privileged area and certified as a “Starlight Tourism Destination” Dark Sky.
The whitewashed village developed halfway up the hill, losing contact with the Guadiana River. Today, with the Alqueva lake, new margins have been defined and it is essential to define the new connection axes. The Castle-Observatory is the transition element between the village and the lake, the redesign of the village's stone pavement and the rehabilitation of the medieval stone sleepers will allow access to the lake, mooring small floating ports, inviting to continue the route.
Despite being intrinsically linked to the place, I join my motivation to intervene in the Ruin with the real need for rehabilitation in order to be cohabited again, projecting an Astronomical Observatory with a new program and new materials, which allows dialogue without interfering in the historical context and preserve the place. The circular shapes of the symbol-object emphasizes the local vaults and reminds us of the celestial dome, allowing to shape the space/function through the structure.
The structure is supported by elements of the program, without touching the Ruins, creating a chiaroscuro contrast and an ambiguity between the strength of the wall and the lightness of the structure/enclosure, complementing and enhancing the Ruins. The structure shapes the spaces of contemplation, the space of evocation defined by a dome and an oculus and the space of celestial observation is defined by an inverted dome that surrounds us and allows us to have an experience alone with the sky.
“In buildings, in cities or in the territory that is always humanized, the architecture of the coming years will be marked by the practice of recovery. Recovery and creation will be complementary and not specialties subject to autonomous treatments ... the instruments for recognizing the real are called History, the art of building transformation is called Architecture. One without the other is called the failure of contemporary architecture, we say ”Architect Siza Vieira.
