EDP Headquarters, Lisbon

About

Centuries ago the Tagus River estuary was the widest. The space available along the riverfront of the Portuguese capital has multiplied after subsequent interventions carried out over time. In this strip of land reclaimed from the water stands the new central headquarters of EDP – Energias de Portugal –, one of the main electrical groups in Europe, and the largest in Portugal. The form of the building is conditioned by its location by the river, a prominent and highly visible place, with a symbolic presence in the city. The program is organized in two narrow blocks – arranged perpendicular to the north bank of the river so as not to block the views from the city –, connected by sloping footbridges that enclose a shaded public square with an auditorium and multipurpose halls below. In terms of construction, the ensemble is completed following three basic principles: modulation, structure, and sun protection. Both the facade and the canopy of the square are wrapped by louvers of variable section that, on one hand, protect the interior spaces from sunlight and, on the other, give the complex a uniform appearance and a monumental character... [+]

Sources

• Arquitectura Viva