Santa Bárbara Beach

São Miguel Island, 2006 - 2009

Santa Bárbara Beach is a well-known beach among surfers, sited on the north Shore of São Miguel Island. Its basalt cliffs creates a dramatic scenery. In such landscape, we were asked to redesign its public space through an extension of its walkway and improve the car parking, combined with an interesting pergola. Improving its urban shape, we also designed beach facilities for their visitors. The separated volumes program is simple: two bathhouses, two locker rooms, one facility for lifeguards, exterior showers and a bar with terrace. The wooden volumes, the wooden walkway, and the basalt floor aims to appear like it is part of the site, like it was grown from the ground. The wooden volumes facing the beach and the dark rocks, establishes a dialogue which can be seen as a new landscape.