A Thickened Footpath
Mar 2017 - May 2017
Semester Project in Various Media & Sizes
Individual Project (Cornell University)
Visiting Professor: Paulo David & João Almeida, Paulo David Arquitectos, Madeira, Portugal
Caniçal is a popular, but secluded hiking spot for its sweeping seaside views. However, it lacks basic signage and amenities which would have made the hiking experience more comfortable. I decided to respond to the site by folding and thickening an existing footpath. I also embedded the path with a cafe, bathrooms, a camp ranger’s office, and a small room for temporary stay.
The path mediates between the fast walking pace of the hikers and the slow, contemplative time needed for rest. By embedding a path deeper into the earth, the integrity of the landscape’s sweeping views is protected. This move also protects its inhabitants from the strong winds. By elevating the path with stilts, the intervention avoids the marsh/wet earth.
The 1:50 final model reveals the unpeeled roof that exposes the mediating wall. From bottom to top, office, bar, lookout, stepped seating, private stepped seating, bathrooms, room.
