In Search of the Miraculous

DSA Lisbon - Second Year Masters

January 2015

This project is located in Cabo Espichel, which is less than an hour away from Lisbon, Portugal. Cabo Espichel stands on a high cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with a breathtaking view. It is a place of archaeological remains, religious cults, and until today, a pilgrimage destination.

While barren and austere, it comprises an assorted ensemble of constructions including a chapel, a church, a dormitory, a reservoir, and a lighthouse. A project for such a site should be precise and "acupunctural," dealing sensibly with heritage and landscape.

The program for this project includes a bus stop, a residence for artists, an art school and a museum dedicated to the oeuvre of Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader.

Constructed primarily of glass and steel, three pavilions are designed to be a light and transparent addition, offering a sense of evanescence to an historical site heavy with heritage and meaning.