Arraiolos Castle Requalification (3rd prize - selected fase 2)

Recovered Treasures

We propose the regeneration of the Arraiolos image.
We also propose the restoration and enhancement of its greatest treasures:
1- the Castle (inside the enclosure walls);
2- the Arraiolos Carpet;
3- the visitors of Arraiolos;
4- the inhabitants of Arraiolos.
Our proposal works in these 4 scales.
Rather than make good or bad architecture, we would like to propose strong ideas that with their boldness and possible relevance, could become the generators of added value to and from the city.
In this way, which strong ideas are we proposing? Only two:
1- Inhabited itineraries;
2- Bi polarization (Castle/CIT – Interpretative Carpet Centre)

Inhabited itineraries (Arraiolos Carpet canvas)

We take part of an Arraiolos symbol, the Arraiolos Carpet (specifically its canvas). From here, abstractly, we originate a network of paths, which we designate, Inhabited Itineraries.
The concept of mesh is materialized through a system of longitudinal and cross paths that establish a connection between the two main spaces of the proposal, the Castle and the Windmills.
Thus integrating other existing reference points of the city (eg: Pousada de Portugal, Main Church, Bus Central, Cine-Teatro, Library, etc), our itineraries work like a network that stitches everything, in order to promote a diversity of interests, whether cultural, social, recreational, etc.
Along the itineraries, there are some extensions and embedded platforms in the slopes, that work not only as a turning point, but they allow the generation of rest and leisure points.
There points appear in strategic places, where the visitor can have a wide perception over the surrounding landscape.

Bi polarization (Castle/CIT – Interpretative Carpet Centre)

Like many other traditions today, the Arraiolos Carpet can suffer the consequences of the lack of labor (thus risking to have some “ China made Arraiolos Carpet”).
Why not implement in this valuable site, a super active centre where the carpet is made, where the carpet is discussed, where it is sold, where to learn, where to smell the carpet, where to can research about the carpet; in a few words, where to live the carpet.
The city council has proposed the Interpretative Carpet Centre in the centre of the city, but how about if they located it in the area of the windmills? Besides enhancing an Arraiolos symbol, besides rehabilitating a place, aren't we proposing a new attraction pole in the territory? Therefore a relation point with the Castle? We think so. Cannot these two point live together?
Another theme: the Preliminary Program asked us the need to create conditions for an area destinated to the sheeps. With our idea, it seemed immediately to us that the sheeps should be located in the CIT. However why not to keep what the Preliminary Program requested, adding also those same conditions in the CIT.
Couldn't it be another unification factor between the two poles?
Also, we could translate the “cycle from the sheep to the carpet”, making the sheep actually go to the carpet (to the CIT)?
We propose a “going and coming” of sheeps from one pole to another, whether it be in a daily basis, restoring the traditions, whether it be only at festive days.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Credits:

Project: Arraiolos Castle Requalification
Location: Arraiolos, Portugal
Date: 2008 (Competition) ? (waiting fase 2)
Client: Câmara Municipal de Arraiolos
Architecture: Cláudio Vilarinho + Pacific Plan - Projectos e Consultoria, S.A
Collaborators: Filipe Lemos, João Sousa, Sofia Araújo
Landscape: Nuno Almeida + Lília Coelho + Andreia Silva
Engineering: Pacific Plan - Projectos e Consultoria, S.A
Archaeology and Art History: Víria, Arqueologia e Património, Lda.