THE SITE
Casal do Gavião is one of the “casais de lavoura” (farmstead) distinctive of the Charneca Ribatejana. It is part of a agro-silvopastoral system based on FSC certified cork oak forest (‘montado de sobro’) and an organic and extensive lamb production unit, linked to other farming activities, within the rural landscape of Charneca, characterized by stillness and a tranquil beauty.
The farmstead is composed of buildings of traditional vernacular architecture, built during the 1st half of the twentieth century, with a residential core and buildings for several farming purposes such as barns, warehouses, silos, stables, etc.
It is located 140 km from Lisbon, 50 km from Santarém and 30 km from Chamusca.
THE OBSERVATÓRIO DA CHARNECA
This equipment is a building resulting from the rehabilitation of an old barn and farming warehouse, adapting it as a space for meetings and events of different kinds, being the headquarters of the Associação Observatório da Paisagem da Charneca.
The building has a multipurpose room, toilet, a kitchenette for catering service support, and storage room, totaling 180 square meters. The space outside uses the concept of the pre-existing threshing floor at the center of a “jardim (garden) da charneca” landscape frame based on native vegetation, and also integrating a horse arena.
The architecture project is authored by João Nery Morais, the engineering project by Gabicrel, Consultores de Engenharia Lda., outdoor space by landscape architect Sofia Vaz Tainha and construction carried out by Cardador e Marques Lda.
Project article on ArchDaily in Brazilian Portuguese and English.
ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP
- Technical, scientific and cultural events
- Artistic residencies and visual arts exhibitions
- Science and arts workshops
- Workshops on local products
- Study visits
- Group visits – trails and thematic routes
- Hosting research projects linked to the study of local characteristics.
- Other artistic and recreational activities.