© Leonardo Finotti . Pubblicata il 06 Ottobre 2010.

The Garcia de Orta gardens’ design was a commission to Global for the EXPO’98. The construction of the gardens aimed to homage the famous Renaissance Portuguese doctor and botanist who travelled on expeditions to Africa and the Orient, and from where he brought to Portugal many plants. He became famous for his writings on the plants medical quality, in characterizing their habitats and in discussing their ornamental uses and aesthetic value. The place was conceptualized as a unit that includes five garden type spaces where five distinct geographical zones were represented relative to the Portuguese botanist research. The place was built as a linear spatial form along the riverbank in which five autonomous gardens offer spatial and recreational opportunities for learning. The gardens’ design avoided the theme and the imitating construct and processes. It searched for a spatial representation that aimed to evoking the atmosphere of those represented places, using both plant and construction material that was geography-specific. The complete experience of the gardens is possible to achieve through a continuous linear walk that crosses the five places. The observer confronts himself/herself with specific spatial constructs that offer numberless possibilities for dwelling. The size of each of these gardens is limited to a 28mx91m plot. The physical movement inside the gardens is determined by a path system that structures the sight and body experience. The walk is a structure that performs the experience and the movement. The path system design aimed to create the most varied experiences and choices to re-focus constantly the sight and the experience within such small surface. This can give several and open dimensions to explore its content and spatiality. The gardens’ dweller has recognized the gardens as places for individual and collective seclusion and rest, as well as for learning, ever since.

© Duarte Belo . Pubblicata il 05 Maggio 2009.

© Duarte Belo . Pubblicata il 05 Maggio 2009.

© Duarte Belo . Pubblicata il 05 Maggio 2009.

© Duarte Belo . Pubblicata il 05 Maggio 2009.

© Duarte Belo . Pubblicata il 05 Maggio 2009.