The project is born from listening to the landscape. The collapse of the old fortress, together with the seismic nature of the area, attests that nature and time are the only possible creators of this territory.
The beauty of this place is shaped by the tension—balance between water and rock, between solid ground and the horizon. An enduring conflict along the Portuguese coast that makes this territory feel like an island facing the Atlantic. Here, the ocean shows us that its flow is always unbreakable. Therefore, water, the main shaper of this territory, will also be the main generator of this project.
Os caminhos da água is a system of irrigation channels and concavities in the ground, created through localised modifications of the topography, which will encourage the emergence of Mediterranean temporary ponds. A freshwater habitat unique in Europe, specific to this context, which appears in shallow depressions capable of retaining rainwater and naturally shapes a dynamic landscape between dry phases and wet phases.
Three simple operations, the use of local materials, and various combinations of these elements shape the project and its programme:
- EXCAVATE to retain rainwater and encourage the emergence of temporary ponds.
- ACCUMULATE stone strategically, creating viewpoints and terraces.
- RISE UP using wood as a material, to walk above the ground along new walkways.
Access is signposted at Praia da Ingrina. Likewise, there are different information points along the route through inscriptions on the walkways. The Zavial Viewpoint appears in the form of an amphitheatre as the culmination of the journey.
Through play and surprise, visitors will be able to understand the nature and history of Zavial, enjoying a dynamic landscape that supports the survival of a unique ecosystem. Both architecture and visitor will leave Zavial without leaving a trace.