Spaceworkers’ Interpretation Centre of Romanesque Architecture in Lousada, Portugal becomes a bridge linking the medieval era with the contemporary world. This cultural building is a collection of different sized volumes, each referencing the multiplicity of Romanesque structures, celebrating their contribution to the development of today’s architecture.

Spaceworkers explain, “Based on the generator concepts of Romanesque architecture in Portugal, the proposed building aims to be a transitional element between the present and the distant Romanesque past.”

Spaces unfold with a series of square volumes connected by a glass-topped passageway. From the outside, the building appears solid and impenetrable, however, once inside, spaces feel open and airy. Each volume features large cut-outs, creating a continuously flowing floor plate. A distorted grid forms the ceiling, moving from rectangular shapes into triangles. Sunlight floods in from above, generating bright, welcoming interiors, brought to life with an array of dancing shadows.

Architects outline, “In the relation that these volumes seek to establish with each other, we tried to explore the idea of the rural street as a unifying element and generator of life experiences. Thus, all volumes arise interconnected by a central body, which precedes the entry into each one as a cloister.”

Spaceworkers go on to explain, “Internally, we have tried to make spaces reflect a bit of the monumentality and refer us to the interior of the Romanesque buildings, not only for their scale but also for the forms. To do so, each of the volumes re-interprets one type of roofing used in that architecture.”

A restrained and simple material palette has been used with robust concrete walls acting as the main aesthetic voice throughout the building. A collection of white finishes, moments of dark charcoal paint and glass ceilings combine to create an interior scheme reminiscent of a futuristic spaceship.

The constant tension between the architecture of the past and the design of the future brings an interesting element to each volume, creating a multi-layered, complex web of spaces.

[Images courtesy of Spaceworkers. Photography by Fernando Guerra / FG+SG.]