Colorful metal covers embrace the National Art Center in Cape Verde

CNAD project - Cape Verde - Ramos Castellano Architects

(Sergio Pirrone/CASACOR)

From afar they are several colorful balls , but up close it is a fascinating architecture designed by Ramos Castellano Architects in the city of Mindelo, Cape Verde.

(Sergio Pirrone/CASACOR)

The space is the CNAD – National Center of Art, Crafts and Design –, which is located in an old house of great importance to the city's history. The project was born from a visionary dream: Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands in the middle from the Atlantic Ocean, where almost all products come from abroad in containers and barrels, from oil to clothing, food, and emigrants. And so the architect decided to incorporate these elements into the space.

(Sergio Pirrone/CASACOR)

“Our approach was to knock down the walls and open the courtyard to the city and use these barrel lids to create a skin that covers the entire museum , paying homage to that simple object that is so present in Cape Verdean life,” describes the office.

The objective was to work with the minimum resources possible and with artisans from the city center who use recycled materials.

(Sergio Pirrone/CASACOR)

The new building’s ventilated double façade ensures passive control of the internal temperature without the use of air conditioning. The covers can also rotate like window blinds, allowing modulation of internal light and airflow.

(Sergio Pirrone/CASACOR)

The energy will be provided by photovoltaic panels . The colored metal covers hide a sheet of music, so each color is a musical note .

(Sergio Pirrone/CASACOR)

“We wanted to use the perceptual phenomenon of synesthesia, so we asked a Cape Verdean composer and multi-instrumentalist, Vasco Martins , to write the music behind the colors, paying homage to the musical traditions of the islands and transmitting a visual musical joy to the square.” , says the office.

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