ana rita vale + andré calvete envision ex-factory as a textile museum

portguese architects ana rita vale and andré calvete reveal their competition entry for the renovation of an industrial complex into a museum of textile production in riba di ave, portugal. the project aims at recreating the history of that artisanal sector and what a factory actually means or represent. having this in mind, the chosen building would have the responsibility of offering visitors a glimpse into older times whilst introducing new routines. therefore, being a former hub for spinning and other machineries, the proposal would house an entire exhibition area that serves as a link between the past (factory) and the present (museum).

river façade with red tilles filling the gaps between the window panels

based on the chosen building’s characteristic scale, structure, geometry and lighting, ana rita vale and andré calvete have been able to draw out the concept for their proposal. more specifically, the roof of the complex — with its rhythmic pattern of skylights– has become a core feature in the design. for the textile museum, the duo have chosen ferreira sampaio & Cª Lda. as the ‘factory’ which would expose the materials and narratives of this particular sector. next to the selected structure is placed a duplicated version of the original one to create a greater impact in the territorial context, attracting more visitors to this forgotten place.

cafeteria area showing the replicated version of the old building, creating a more inclusive experience for visitors

the design of the proposed complex divides the plot into three parts. the first one is formed by a platform with a parking lot that ensures 250 car spaces needed not only for the museum, but also for the ‘narciso ferreira theater’ located in the surroundings. the second part is the cycle path that separates the first and third zones. finally, the last section is formed by the platforms belonging to the museum and squares that go along the river — thus maintaining the original ground levels of the previous buildings. this preserve traces of the past in spite of the removal of most of the historic buildings.

entrance area – visitors have access to most spaces of the museum to highlight the public value of the project

this proposal covers a greater area of public space than a private one; in other words, the visitor has access to most of the complex. to elaborate, the museum is organized in two modes: extension and stacking. the first layers concerns the existing building and will serve mainly for exhibitions. the second, inserted in the designed complex of six floors, confines the administration and services. on another note, the architects have also focused on visual integrity. the building would become the screen that frames the old chimney in the east façade while the one facing the river would be cladded with red tiles that fill the gaps between the window panels, as seen on the roof of the existing construction. this gesture aims to provide a more unifying language between the old and new complex.

exhibition of the machinery and other elements that make up the sector of textile production

visitors will ultimately walk through machinery and other elements specific to the sector, in constant fluxes which are reminiscent of an assembly line. therefore, a continuous path in the exhibition areas would operate individually or as a single walkway that connects them all. the permanent exhibition space is at the center of the building, levelling with the cargo hub to facilitate the movement of machines. additionally, the temporary displays are accompanied by discrete ramps that allow a progressive reading of the old industrial space as the crowd goes up. lastly, the public access to the reserved area is done through a continuous circulation, this time around the existing chimney. this system allows all paths to have the same beginning and end.

space organization – axonometric view

exhibition paths

concept diagrams

site plan

sections

plan level 82.85

plan level 88.95

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom