ARCHITECTURE: Paulo David _______________________________________________ ADDRESS: Estrada Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, Calheta _______________________________________________ CITY: Madeira _______________________________________________ DATE: 2001-2004 _______________________________________________ VISIT: Inside - Outside _______________________________________________ MORE DETAILS: On Madeira’s west coast, set in the top of a cliff, arises the Casa das Mudas Arts Centre. It is today an important landmark in the islands landscape. The architect had the ambition to redraw the mountain where the building acts as topography, materializing itself through a set of sculptured pieces and perceived as a topographic sculpture. Because it is dug and sculpted, it offers the visitor a subterranean experience. The equipment was covered in regional black basalt, both external walls and roof. The material’s colour and texture gives continuity and helps the fusion of the building with the landscape. It’s a cultural centre with exhibition galleries, auditorium, library, shop/bookstore, cafeteria, restaurant and runs artistic workshops and ateliers. It is composed of two buildings, one from the 15th century and the other modern and minimalist, designed by Paulo David, and was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe European Award in Contemporary Architecture. _______________________________________________
