agricultural mountain by group IUT

‘agricultural mountain’ by group IUT

exterior view

image © carina oliveira

exploring the paradox of an ephemeral monument creation, the agricultural project by portuguese group IUT was developed as an artificial mountain placed in the city outskirts. located within ‘veiga de creixomil’, the agricultural area represents a microcosm of the ave river valley, characterized by a great dispersion of the urban settlements, creating a blurred distinction between the urban and the rural areas. the proposal distinguishes itself from the immediate surroundings by its vertical scale (12,70m height) in opposition to the horizontal plain, producing an immediate impact to the public as soon as they arrive to town. it has a wide base, like a ziggurte, that narrows up into a tower with salient corners. the intervention bases its design off the ancient guimarães castle tower, providing an invitation for the public to climb, sit and rest.

the pyramidal volume was built by piling up a total of 288 large sized 300kg straw bales around a guiding thin metal structure with no other structural function than supporting the interior elevated floor. a squared shaped plan with four closed corners and the straw bale assembly system allowsa completely locked structure without need to use mortar or other reinforcements. 

exterior view

image © carina oliveira

exterior view – kids and parents playingimage © carina oliveira

interior room – skylightimage © carina oliveira 

interior room – multifunctional spaceimage © carina oliveira 

exterior view sunset

image © sara lazaro

exterior view – kids and parents playingimage © nelson guarrido

image © nelson guarrido 

view from ‘veiga de creixomil’

image © nelson guarrido

construction phase

image © bruno gomes

plans with functions

section

project information: 

authors: IUT group: nuno miguel lima cruz (architect), bruno martins afonso gomes (architect), antónio da silva lopes (designer) consultant: joaquim carvalho (civil engineer) support: jofebar and herdade das barradas da serra site: guimarães, portugal client: guimarães 2012 european capital of culture

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