FORMER FIRE STATION OF BARCARENA, 2024
The project presented here concerns the rehabilitation of the former Fire Station of Barcarena, promoted by the Municipality of Oeiras, with the aim of preserving the building and providing it with the conditions necessary for use by the Barcarena Parish Council, including four rooms for public service or training and a multipurpose hall for parish assembly sessions and other events.
The building, constructed in the first half of the 20th century, likely with load-bearing masonry walls only, was later extended with a new floor in the second half of the century using reinforced concrete structure. Faced with the challenge of introducing a new function and way of inhabiting a building whose interior presents several pathologies, the strategy was to work from the existing structure, preserving its essential and permanent elements: the internal reinforced concrete structure and the external stone masonry walls. This approach is also made possible by the building’s raw condition, which contains no architectural or decorative interior elements to preserve. From this starting point, the proposal was developed with the following objectives: to provide spatial comfort and quality, and to organise the functional programme within the building.
For the reorganisation of the building, the introduction of independent objects was studied, both formally and structurally, in order to separate spaces and define an inside and an outside, common and private areas. These objects could incorporate movable or fixed panels, opaque or transparent. These wooden elements, with a clear vertical modulation and expression, contrast with the continuous light-toned wall finishes. The irregular polygonal geometry of the surrounding buildings presents a challenge for spatial subdivision. It was important to define working directions and the strongest axes of the building in order to organise spaces in a rational and orthogonal manner, allowing for controlled exceptions. The connections between spaces reflect the pursuit of the project’s objectives. All newly created walls, beyond the wooden partitions, are conceived as lightweight systems, in order not to overload the structure.
Around the entire building, an “inner skin” is proposed, with a certain thickness, providing enhanced thermal and acoustic insulation and the regularisation of the existing walls, reinforcing as far as possible the orthogonality between surfaces. This skin may also serve structural reinforcement functions, should analysis require the encasement of masonry walls with reinforced concrete and reinforcement bars. The window frames remain metallic, but the depth of the openings is emphasised through metal reveals that frame the voids and protect the glazing from solar radiation. The staircase is part of the reinforced concrete structure and is therefore to be preserved and regularised to meet regulatory step dimensions. The regularisation of walls and ceilings around the staircase is conceived as a gesture arising from its position as a hinge between oblique directions, recalling the presence of arches in the fire station tower.
Arquitetura: Maria João Patronilho | Hugo Casanova | Mariana Morais
Tiago Cascalho | Rita Espanha da Cunha
Engenharia: Dimest
Fotografia: Atelier66 | Hugo Casanova (Maquetes)
Visualizações Digitais: Atelier66 | Tiago Cascalho