oto arquitectos blends fogo island park HQ with volcanic landscape

in order to create an identity and improve management of a protected land on fogo island, oto arquitectos were commissioned by cape verde’s government to design a headquarters facility for the natural park. located in a barren volcanic landscape, the building — photographed here by fernando guerra — takes a dark matte color, and a low ramping form around a central courtyard. an additional aim of the project was to appease the nearby town’s residents, and thus the structure incorporates spaces for cultural and recreational enjoyment. the facility contains offices and laboratories for technicians that are responsible for the administration and treatment of the preserved area. the building’s lighting is intended to radiate minimally to its context, so as not to disrupt native birds.

image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra
all images courtesy of oto arquitectos

the natural park headquarters serves the nearby village, chã das caldeiras, which is situated at an altitude of 1800 meters in the crater of the fogo island’s volcano. the structure is made of local materials and techniques, by the town’s craftspeople. the community contains about 1200 inhabitants, and exists on the fringes of legality, occupying lands of the state. with a very geographically isolated location off the coast of western africa, it relies on agricultural production to ensure sustained survival.
the building form encircles a central courtyard, with a ramping roof line
image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

due to the lack of any public utility grid, there is a necessity for energy independence, with a photovoltaic array as the main source. the building also utilizes a double water grid, where rain is collected from the roofs, along with the system’s greywater, for storage and reuse. the entire structure is surrounded by ramps and spaces containing local plant species from the natural park, serving to blend the headquarters into the landscape.

the park headquarters serves as a gathering place for public events
image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

cape verde is a geographically isolated archipelago off the coast of west africa
image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

the entire structure is surrounded by ramps and spaces containing local plant species from the natural park
image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

the facility contains workspaces for technicians responsible for the administration and treatment of the park
image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

the building’s lighting is intended to radiate minimally to its context, so as not to disrupt native birds
image by FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

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project info:

location: fogo island, cape verde
area: 3200 sqm
year: 2013
architecture: oto arquitectos
project team: andré castro santos, miguel ribeiro de carvalho, nuno teixeira martins, ricardo barbosa vicente
specialties: eng. amado alves | eng. maria joão rodrigues + eng. joão parente | prosirtec | matriz engenharia
contractor: armando cunha
client: ministry of agriculture
financier: kfw | general coordination, GOPA
photography: FG+SG – fernando guerra, sergio guerra

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