A sequence of introverted and extroverted spaces in Quinta da Arealva. Designing to produce a narrative sequence

A sequence of introverted and extroverted spaces in Quinta da Arealva seeks to explore the heterotopic conditions of space in relation to existing abandoned architectures. For this purpose, we chose to analyse the area of Quinta da Arealva, located in the city of Almada. Almada represents the other border of Lisbon, beyond the Tagus River and was always characterized as a production centre and a “dormitory city”. Moreover, due to a noticeable landscape composed of a steep rock cliff, the city always had a natural barrier with its riverfront and consequently, with the visual dialogue to the city of Lisbon. The proposed area of Quinta da Arealva leaves us with a perception of being placed in front of vast differences in scale with respect to the site and the elements around it, both those natural (the rock cliff and the Tagus river) and those man-made (Ponte 25 de Abril and Santuario Cristo Rei). If we arrive to Quinta, we arrive after having experienced a path through a coastal sequence of which Quinta is the conclusion. The project is intended as a sequence of public spaces as the line of the coast is a sequence that is intended to be extended; not just in a physical way but also metaphorically as it represents itself as an architectural promenade. Each space that composes this line, is defined by a specific theme, that are related to architectural archetypes. The space is usable in diverse modes depending on the architectural characteristics of each place. It seeks to produce an imaginative work that walks the line between what is known (the existing industrial remaining) and the unknown (the sequence of proposed interventions): as perceives, we partake in a rich continuous experience. This thesis investigates a state of heterotopia, where the architecture seeks to achieve spatial and temporal expression, but can only exist as a “real” place when denied of its true realistic existence. The objective of this research is to translate the concepts elaborated during the investigation in an architectural device able to express recognizable archetypes into a physical space.