AND-RÉ Arquitectura has designed the Alto Tâmega Tourism Info Point in Chaves, Portugal, which was the result of a public competition organized by the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Tâmega (CIMAT).
Set in the Tabolado Garden, the small building has a circular design that’s built using a structural base of timber pillars and beams over a concrete slab.
The building is completely covered in vertical timber that complements the surrounding trees found in the garden, while two separate arches reveal windows and doors.
The circular design of the building is accented by a curved water feature as well as solar panels on the roof. The water feature has been designed as a symbolic reflecting pool, evoking the Tâmega River that identifies this region and the fact that Chaves is one of the most important thermal areas in Portugal.
Inside, there’s a single open-space room with an exposed wood ceiling, designed to allow many visitors simultaneously, while the technical areas and toilets are hidden in wall thickness.
At night, lights line the curves of the building, highlighting the entryway and the reflecting pool.
