Jardim da Galeria Municipal: how to intervene without disruption
- Bak Gordon Architects and RM Architecture
- Photography: Francisco Nogueira
In the historic center of Montijo, Portugal, Bak Gordon Architects, in collaboration with RM Arquitectura, has transformed a residual space into an 80 m² garden that redefines the relationship between the public and the intimate. This project arose in response to the need to improve the accessibility of the Municipal Gallery, a 19th century building, by incorporating an elevator. The intervention is not limited to a functional solution, but becomes a work that dialogues with its urban and heritage environment.
The garden is conceived as a “hortus conclusus”, a contained and serene space that offers two outdoor areas at different levels. This layout creates an atmosphere conducive to contemplation and relaxation, while maintaining a subtle connection with the city. A metal railing at the apex of the building allows a glimpse of the garden from the outside, arousing curiosity without completely revealing its interior.
The materiality of the project reinforces its integration with its surroundings. Walls plastered with slightly sandy cement mortar unify the space and highlight the values of scale, proportion, light and shadow. The choice of materials and the attention to detail are evidence of an architecture that seeks harmony with its context, without resorting to grandiloquent gestures.
The Jardim da Galeria Municipal is an example of how architecture can intervene in the existing urban fabric in a respectful and meaningful way. Beyond solving an accessibility problem, this project creates a place for meeting and reflection, demonstrating that even the smallest interventions can have a profound impact on the urban experience.
