Assignment

In the first weeks of the spring semester 2019 in Tom Emerson's studio, we prepared for the later project by analyzing various buildings. This resulted in the Atlas of Altering Architecture. In a group of four people, we examined an assigned project in terms of how to deal with existing buildings. The selected works ranged from antiquity to the present day and showed the variety of ways in which an existing structure can be dealt with.

Concept

The project assigned to us was the Chiado quarter in Lisbon, which fell victim to a fire in 1988. Entire buildings burned down, often leaving only the massive stone facade standing. Alvaro Siza was then commissioned to rebuild it. However, he did not return the district to its original state, but rather changed it significantly. He introduced passageways that allow the inner courtyards to be reached or even crossed. The existing facades were retained. However, he created a new style of façade that was very similar to the previous one and, to the inattentive observer, indistinguishable from the original. In order to preserve the facades, a second concrete wall was built behind it, which also allowed for a complete redesign of the interiors.