AMI Headquarters (5th Prize)

Concept
We propose a powerful concept: AMI with open arms to offer; AMI with open arms to receive.
From the formal and architectural point of view, we propose a building full of symbolism and representation for the Institution.

Bodies
The building headquarters is born from a strong and unique gesture. Protected in the belly, we have the kindergarten. This one seeks points of contact with the main building and at the same time it is loosened (formally), in order to allow the necessary separation and independence to operate autonomously.

Shape
The shape of the proposal has a huge worry: How to create public space in order to shape the city.
In order to allow the continuity of the urban space till the rooftop of the building, we have lowered one of the “arms”. This simple gesture allowed the public space to develop across the whole rooftop of the building, and at the end of this path (more elevated), it has its bigger interest on the sights that it projects to the horizon, to the sea and to the “world”. To this idea of promenade architecturale we associate the social function of the building. On the same way and in order to liberate the urban floor, we chose to elevate the “left arm” (a gesture that follows the steps of the amphitheatre).
In this way, beyond these values, we intend to create a piece of Architecture that is more interesting on the dynamic point of view (as a softness of its formal strictness).

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Credits:

Project: AMI Headquarters
Location: Carcavelos, Cascais, Portugal
Date: 2007- 2008 (Competition)
Client: AMI - Assistência Médica Internacional
Architecture: Cláudio Vilarinho
Collaborators: António Carvalho, Filipe Lemos, João Sousa, Tânia Lopes, Vasco Silva
Landscape: Lília Coelho + Nuno Almeida
Engineering: Afaconsult
Sustainability: Miguel Nery
3d: Michel Ferreira