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 Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 02 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 01 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 03 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 04 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 05 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 06 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 07 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Cultural Architecture Photo Sergio Pirron Yellowtrace 08 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 01 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 02 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 03 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 04 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 05 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 06 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 07 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 08 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 09 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 10 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 11 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 12 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 13 Spaceworkers Centro De Interpretacao Do Romanico Lousada Photo Fernando Guerra Fg Sg Yellowtrace 14 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Concept Drawing Yellowtrace 01 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Site Plan Yellowtrace 02 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Floor Plan Yellowtrace 03 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Elevation Yellowtrace 04 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Elevation Yellowtrace 05 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Elevation Yellowtrace 06 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Elevation Yellowtrace 07 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Section Yellowtrace 08 Spaceworkers Interpretation Centre Of Romanesque Architecture Lousada Section Yellowtrace 09 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. Related: An Homage to Memphis: Ya Space! Art & Design Museum by Li Wenqiang. [Images courtesy of Spaceworkers. Photography by Fernando Guerra / FG+SG.] Share the love:FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPinterest Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ