The Caldeira Velha, on the island of São Miguel, was classified as Regional Natural Monument by Regional Legislative Decree No. 5/2004/A, on March 18th, with the following objectives: "(...) from an environmental education perspective of the protected area, a scientific study will be developed and distributed; the appreciation and preservation of space with the creation of infrastructures to facilitate their operation in an orderly and responsible manner, preventing the destruction of the existing natural heritage there; the conditioning of activities in the protected area and its surroundings."

The results of adapting these objectives fluently in a built up area, is a building inserted in a place with materials that complement the landscape (including the corten steel and stone) and respectability that appeals to the visitor who arrives. A combination of natural and humanized intervention is used with the intention of the inclusion of renewable energy, as well as environmentally friendly materials.

Concentrated in an area surrounded by a natural landscape, the building is part of the terrain, this is a given, working as a "diamond" adapting to existing vegetation and stones, giving it an organic image, but consistent with the environment. Conceptually, it is a space with varying contrasts: between light and dark (skylights are used that favor the entry of light) and between elements that are constructed and natural (on the one hand the stone and weathering steel, as well as the large windows that point to the landscape transposing it to the interior of the building).

Structurally we opted for a mixed composition: in a raised part of the building, it was decided to use metal mesh HEB 180 profiles, based on the concrete pillars; the remainder of the space will be a slab structure with concrete retaining walls. However, it was opted for a combination of elements that serve both interests for the specifications of the walls and roofs: "ERFI" polyurethane sandwich panels, with built-in thermal insulation, coated with DURIPANEL on the inside and the outside will be wooden panels of Nordic pine and, occasionally, in corten steel. This option allows the building to look like a diamond/monolith, perfectly integrated into the landscape.

The building functions as a route in the overall progression of the spaces: entrance, information, exhibition, café, gift shop and auditorium. It is a conservative space, without any enhancement, with only minor structures (known as mobile) that function like sculptures and include a reserved area in the cafeteria and gift shop area. Thus, in a relatively small space, it was possible to create different zones which may be utilized autonomously or integrated into a complete roadmap for the visitors to the site.