Metaxy

Starting from a single fragment of Álvaro Siza’s Galeria do Antiquário / Campo Alegre, we reinterpreted the staircase as a design language rather than an object. Its geometries, proportions, and spatial relationships became the foundation for a new intervention carved into a coastal cliff. The main stair is repeated three times, extending out from the cliff to create a public plaza and belvedere overlooking the sea. The original column is transformed into a vertical void carved through the mountain, bringing natural light into the interior while establishing a visual connection between the surface and the spaces below. The zigzag stair profile is reinterpreted as the ceiling of the underground passage, shaping the experience of movement through the cliff. Finally, the circular stair is subtracted into the rock to form a partially flooded chamber at the edge of the landscape, where seawater enters naturally to create an immersive bathing space. The project investigates how one architectural fragment can be reimagined to generate a completely new architectural experience.