Art Center Casa Das Muda

photo: FG + SG, Fernando Guerra

On the horizon of the rocky mountain range of the village of Calheta, a remarkable exhibition complex has risen from the works of local architect Paulo David. The village of Calheta is located on the southwest coast of the Portuguese island of Madeira. The project was an initiative of the city of Funchal and its effort towards decentralized planning of the island's urban infrastructure. Portuguese landscape architect Joao Nunes from the studio PROAP sensitively arranged the surroundings, creating an inseparable part with the building.

The small complex of buildings is situated in a highly exposed position on a steeply descending slope leading to the Atlantic. It works with the topography of the terrain. Horizontal terraces, steps, and ramps support the natural character of the site. The uniqueness of the location is enhanced by the endless expanse of the ocean. The facades of the monolithic blocks have a surface treatment of volcanic basalt. The project consists of two entities. Paulo David's contribution relates to a 15th-century building. The operational labyrinth of the complex is hidden beneath the surface. The massing appears to adapt the design of the cultural center Belém by Vittorio Gregotti in Lisbon, albeit on a smaller scale and in a darker rendition. The exhibition spaces can be flexibly adjusted for the individual needs of the exhibition project. The black exterior contrasts with the white interior. All technical spaces are located along the room's peripheries. Within 12,000m², besides exhibition spaces, there is also an auditorium with 220 seats, a library, a café, a shop, and a bookstore. The project was nominated for the Mies Van der Rohe Award in 2005.