Portuguese architectural and design studio Spaceworkers designed the Centro de Interpretação do Românico, (Romanesque Architecture Interpretation Center), a museum dedicated to the characteristic Romanensque culture of northern Portugal. Located in the village of Lousada in Porto, the structure is part of the Romanesque Route — a series of medieval monuments that carry the same distinct architectural style.
The museum offers a distinct, transitional element between old and new. Composed of seven concrete cuboid forms in differing heights, the exterior displays austere simplicity, a strong characteristic of the Romanesque style. In fact, without the tall glass panels offering a peek into the interior, the museum could have been mistaken as a cultural heritage monument itself.
The interior tells a different story. Each concrete building is its own distinct exhibition space, united by a cloister similar to old monasteries. As visitors enter each space, they transition between sections of the cloister as well, with its glass ceiling allowing natural light to come through.
This makes the transitional element experiential as well. Spaceworkers co-founder Rui Dinis shares: “It is important for us that the building establish the connection between today and the distant past of the Romanesque, and that the visitor feels that right from the moment they cross the entrance door.” More from the studio on their website.
Photography © Fernando Guerra / FG+SG for Spaceworkers