At its core lies the Square of Culture, a civic void designed to act as a point of convergence, capable of adapting to everyday use, cultural programming, and large-scale municipal events. Defined by permeable paving, shaded seating, a performance platform, and a naturalistic garden, the square is enclosed scenographically by the volumes of the building. The continuity of the atrium with the square blurs interior and exterior space, reinforcing the idea of public openness. Sustainability informs the design through permeable surfaces, low-maintenance native vegetation, and a green roof that improves climate comfort and enhances the building’s urban image.

The volumetric composition mediates between the small domestic scale of the former station to the west and the larger urban scale of the school to the east. The complex is articulated in a sequence of programmatic volumes that step up in height, creating a cultural block centered on the square. The main performance hall, with its 22.5-meter-high stage tower, asserts itself as the ensemble’s first architectural punctuation, visible from the city’s main access routes and oriented to avoid shading the square. The gallery tower, aligned with the square, recalls the scale of the station and offers permanent visibility of artworks to the public.

The façades reinforce the unity of the whole through a contrast of polished aluminum cladding and transparent glass. The metallic surfaces reflect light dynamically, altering the building’s perception throughout the day and seasons, while providing durability, low maintenance, and sustainable performance.

Inside, the design prioritizes flexibility and technical efficiency, allowing for a wide range of contemporary artistic practices. The rational organization of spaces supports simultaneous uses, combining professional productions with community engagement. Ultimately, the project proposes a civic and cultural infrastructure that is at once scenographic, functional, and sustainable, leaving a lasting architectural legacy for Trofa.

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STATUS: 2nd Prize

TEAM un-icon: Joana Azevedo & Matteo Missaglia, Rui Esmeraldo, Rositsa Mircheva

LOCATION: Trofa (PT)

LANDSCAPE: Terra Arquitectura Paisagista

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : Eleven Steps

ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT: Inacoustics

THEATER CONSULTANT: Blackfrog

ELETRICITY: Luis Miguel Barbosa

HYDRAULIC: Jorge Gonçalves

MEP: Afaplan

ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT: Inacoustics

FIRE SAFETY: DOUFER