African Design Magazine November 2016 | Page 48

approaches closer, a slight cut in the caldera starts to emerge. The entire cubature has been hidden underground. An important element is a public area which not only makes up for the entrance to the interior but also serves as a multifunctional square. Along with high glazing on the sides and slotted roof above, it frames the views of the volcano located precisely on the axis. The next phase is a facility that combines in itself the functions of the vineyard and the hotel, which result from a desire to activate the area (based on the phenomenon of the alternative tourism) and to use the grape vine cultivation tradition. The ramps, which are an extension of the trail, lead people in the observation deck, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the insides of the caldera, of the volcano and of the outside of the island. The whole refers to the terrain form – the view results from the topography, where the facility is located. On one hand the form is slightly raised above the ground level, forming a horizontal block, on the other hand, it is embedded in the rocky slope of the rising caldera. The central part was designed to be a generally accessible square. This solution allowed the consistent combination of the two functions. The last intervention would be building a new village–creating a place which the community, separated by the volcano, could once again inhabit. The village was located near the new northern road to caldera. In order to minimise the impact of the road on the living conditions in the village, the park, which adjoins the main square of the village, has been designed. In its vicinity the most important facilities have been located, such as a school, a market and a church. The whole is complemented by a network of alleys, irrigation canals and theme pavilions. Based on the natural terrain and the layout of the streets, the houses have been designed as cascaded, hillside buildings. The space behind the houses has been used as a place that could serve as orchards or vegetable gardens, on which residents could produce their own products. The vision of the development of the Fogo Island along with the active volcano caldera, is a very complex project because it combines the cultural issues, social issues, nature and architecture. The aim was not to create the building itself, but to analyse the relations and processes of the human environment and interpreting it into the language of architecture. According to Fabrizio Barozzi from Estudio Barozzi Veiga, “architecture can generate certain positive changes in the community for which it is built.” Analysis of Fogo Island 48 africandesignmagazine.com