When the architects were commissioned to design the new visitor centre for Pombal Castle, a medieval fortification in this small Portuguese town, they were already intimately acquainted with the site. From 2010 onwards, namely, they had been involved in the reorganisation of the entire hill on which the castle ruins stand.
In order to regenerate this tourist attraction and, at the same time, to focus the attention of the local population on its cultural heritage, a new link was created between the urban area at the foot of the hill and the ruins of the fortification. The latter stand enthroned above the town and the surrounding countryside, visible for miles around. Freshly created paths, ramps and staircases lead visitors up the hillside past a newly erected restaurant to the entrance to the ruins, which has also been restored.
Integrating the visitor centre into the courtyard of the castle, however, presented a far greater challenge. With great finesse, the architects have set this compact new steel structure – completely clad in sandlime slabs – immediately next to the historical outer wall of the castle. The spatial programme for the new building was reduced to a minimum. It consists simply of a reception area, an exhibition space and a store.
The height of the observation deck, which occupies the entire area of the roof, was determined so as to afford visitors a view through a late Gothic window opening to the valley and the River Arunca below. The staircase leading up to the roof was incised in the volume of the building, as was the entrance, which forms an unassuming opening in the facade.
In order to regenerate this tourist attraction and, at the same time, to focus the attention of the local population on its cultural heritage, a new link was created between the urban area at the foot of the hill and the ruins of the fortification. The latter stand enthroned above the town and the surrounding countryside, visible for miles around. Freshly created paths, ramps and staircases lead visitors up the hillside past a newly erected restaurant to the entrance to the ruins, which has also been restored.
Integrating the visitor centre into the courtyard of the castle, however, presented a far greater challenge. With great finesse, the architects have set this compact new steel structure – completely clad in sandlime slabs – immediately next to the historical outer wall of the castle. The spatial programme for the new building was reduced to a minimum. It consists simply of a reception area, an exhibition space and a store.
The height of the observation deck, which occupies the entire area of the roof, was determined so as to afford visitors a view through a late Gothic window opening to the valley and the River Arunca below. The staircase leading up to the roof was incised in the volume of the building, as was the entrance, which forms an unassuming opening in the facade.