Description

This proposal was based upon the principles of maintenance and restoration of the existing building identity and qualities, while providing a total update of the current spatial and technical conditions, allowing to present all the performing arts.
The existing theatre consists on a rich building from the early 20th century, located at Fafe town centre, which holds with an “Italian” kind of main room, with an arch shaped plan, double row of boxes in beehive layout, over the auditorium, and a clear separation between stage and audience, through an orchestra trench and the scenes mouth.
So, the response was set up in three fronts: first, consolidation and restoration of the existing structure; second, introduction of a complementary new volume, providing a Film Theatre, Music School, dressing-rooms and administration facilities; third, introduction of a skin that dresses all the building, except the main (existing) facade, that creates a buffer belt where several technical needs will be installed and displayed, in a scenographic way that, at the same time shows how this type of cultural buildings reacts to contemporary demands.
In order to allow the necessary relief for the perception and public use of the new set, we introduced a new square aside the building, under which the foyer and the Movies Cinema were placed.
The transparent skin allows the perception of the complexity of the new building, taking as a backdrop the wooden finishing, which is developed in the continuity of the square. Through the West Façade one has a glimpse of the interior of the volume, towards the Music Academy.

Designed

2004

Completed

2009

Technical data

Work
Fafe Cinema-Theatre Renewal

Client
Fafe Municipality

Location
Travessa Monsenhor Vieira de Castro
Fafe, Portugal

Gross Built Area
4.700m²

Architecture
Gonçalo Louro & Cláudia Santos – Arquitectos, Lda.
and António Guedes

Contractor
Casais, S.A.

Project Date
Feb. 2004

Construction Duration
2007 - 2009

Conclusion Date
Oct. 2009

Photography
FG+SG, fotografia de arquitectura

Project team

Architecture
Gonçalo Louro & Cláudia Santos – Arquitectos, Lda.
and António Guedes

Design Team
André Almeida, Paulo Costa, Tierri Luís

Quantity Surveyor
Ruy Crisóstomo

Specialities
CODIO, Lda (Structure and Hidraulics)
GET, Lda (Mechanical Inst.)
RMGO, Lda (Electrical Inst.)
Acústica & Ambiente, Lda (Acoustics)
J. Aidos, Lda (Scenic Mechanics)
António Correia (Safety)
Pedro Barros (Hidraulics)
António Vasques (Restoration)