Arquipélago – Centro de Artes Contemporâneas

Porto based studio Menos é Mais together with architect João Mendes Ribeiro teamed up to give a new life to what used to be an alcohol and tobacco factory.

Arquipélago Center of Contemporary Arts is located on the main island of Azores, São Miguel, and represents a building complex which offers multi-purpose pavilions used for exhibitions, galleries and performances.

The project is built on contrast of light and dark volumes and the contrast of island-native volcanic stone with concrete. The new contemporary blocks are strategically placed next to the existing industrial building in basalt stone creating a powerful dialogue between the past and the present.