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Thereareaveryfewtimeswhenthespecificcapabilities
ofasite,theparticularneedsandaspirationsofa
sophisticatedclientandcommunity,andthecreative
visionofanarchitectcombinesoprofoundlyasto
produceabuildingthatisatruemasterpieceof
architecture.(Otherformsofartisticexpression
similarlymustbeablesuccessfullytocreatea
communicativeinteractionbetweentheartistandthe
appreciatorsofwhatiscreatedbut,asidefrom
architecture,theaudienceismorevariable,andthe
demandsofthesitelessfixed.)Whatourdearfriend
CharlesCorreahascreatedforthepeopleofLisbon
andtheworldintheChampalimaudCenterisjustsuchamasterpiece.

NancyandIhavejustreturnedfromLisbon,wherewejourneyedtoseeCharles'sbuildingcomplex.Charles
isanoldUrbanAgefriendbut,asidefromhiswonderfulKunchanJungaapartments(q.v.,my
descriptioninmywriteupoftheUrbanAgeConferencethere)inhishometownofBombay,Ihadnever
seenanyofhisotherbuildings.(Havingbeenblownawaybythemagnificenceofthisproject,weplanto
rectifythisfailureassoonaspossibleprobablybeginningwithhisPicowerBuildingatMITinBoston.)

Justfouryearsago,Charleswasbroughttothewaterfrontsite
plannedforthiscomplexandtheunexpectedprocessofdiscoveryat
thatmomentofthesite'sformandrelationtotheriverledtoCharles
formulatingbasicoutlineofhisplanthatverynight.(Iinclude
belowCharles'sdescriptionofthismoment,asitiswonderfully
worthreading)NotunlikeLouisKahn'sSalkInstituteinLaJolla
and,asIam,CharlesisagreatfanofKahntheexperienceofthe
ChampalimaudCenterisverymuchaboutthediscoveryofthebody
ofwaterthatliesbeyondit.Anddiscoveryliesattheheartofwhat
bothsitesareabout:botharedesignedtohousemajorinstitutesfor
scientificandmedicalresearch.InthecaseoftheChampalimaud
Center,thecomplexhousesbothaworldclasscenterforresearchoncancerandneurosurgery(thescientific
boardforwhichisheadedbyJamesWatson)andiscombinedwithamarveloustreatmentfacility,aswell
andthesitehastheaddedtropeofbeingconstructednexttothespotwhere500yearsagoVascodaGamaset
outtodiscovertheworld.

LikeKahn'sSalkInstitute,thiscomplexconsistsoftwogroupingsoflow,essentiallyhorizontalbuildings,
flankinganopenplazaleadingtothewaterand,inboth,thecentralexperienceinvolvesthemovement
throughtheplazabetweenthebuildingstowardthewater.IfindtheSalkInstitutetobeoneoftheworld's
mostsatisfyingandsublimebuildings,andIwasthrilledtodiscoverthatIthinkCharles'scomplexisfar
moreextraordinaryandsuccessful!

Tobeginwith,theChampalimaudCenterisrichwithelegantlysweepingcurvilinearelementsplaying
againstthebasicallyrectangularunderlyingstructure,particularlyofthewesternhalfofthecomplex,which
housestheintegratedresearchandtreatmentfacilitiesandthedecisiontoplacetheseelementstogetherina
singlebuildingisoneofmanybrilliantinnovationsthatwereproducedbytheinteractionofCharlesandthe
fabulousleadersoftheChampalimaudFoundation(whoseableandcreativeBoardchairman[JooBotelho]
andDirector[LeonorBeleza]wehadthehonorofspendingtimewithduringourvisit).Ibelievethatby
bringingthesetwofunctionsintoproximitywitheachothertherewillbeanenhancementofthehopefulness
forthetreatmentcomponentandofthehumanityoftheresearchcomponent.

ThereareanynumberofothernoveldecisionsthatwereproducedinthiscollaborationthatIsuspectwill
enhancethelikelihoodofsignificantscientificdiscoveriesbeingproducedbytheresearcherwhowillwork
here.Foronething,itisanincrediblyhumaneenvironmentinwhichtowork.Whereas,asatmostresearch
facilities,thelabsattheSalkInstitutearerelegatedtoenclosedbasementspaces,thehightech,stateofthe
artlabsintheChampalimaudCenterareonthesecondfloor,andtheyhaveaglasswallwithaviewofthe
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water.(IdonotbelieveIhaveeverseenanyotherlaboratory
facilitywithaview.)Theofficesfortheindividualscientists
areacrossalong,light,andairytwostoryhallway,witha
viewattheendsowonderfulthatithasbeenfondly
nicknamed"SunsetBoulevard.")Thosereallyfamiliarwith
theSalkInstituteknowthatitisnotaparticularlyhappy
environmentinwhichtoworkandthatallbutthemostelite
ofoffices(thefewonthethirdfloorwhichhaveviewsofthe
water)areratherdrearytoinhabit.Therewasalsoadecision
madetohouseallthelaboratoryspaceoftheChampalimaud
Centertogetherinone,long,expansiveroomratherthaneach
grouphavingitsownseparateroom.Thishighceilinged,openspacewithaglasswallrunningitslength,
hasampleorganizationalstructuretoaccommodateseparateworkinggroupidentitieswithintheoverall
space,yetatthesametimeprovingtheopportunityforintergroupinteraction.

Thebeautiful,almostwhitestonecladdingoftheChampalimaud
CenterhasavitalitymakesthegraycementoftheSalkInstitute
seemdrabbycomparisonparticularlyintheintenselybrilliant,
seeminglyMediterraneanlightofLisbon(whichisasastounding
asitisperplexing,sinceLisbonisontheAtlantic,notthe
Mediterraneanand,eventhen,thelightseemsorelikethatofthe
easternMediterraneanratherthanofthewestern)

ThewesternbuildinghasanLshapedinnerstructure,withthe
longarmoftheLhousingthelaboratoryspaceonthesecondfloor
(andtheofficespacebehindthat),andhousingtheclinicalspacesonthefirstfloor.Asoneenterstheclinical
areasthroughthemagnificent,open,twostoryglassfrontedlobby,oneseesthroughtheglasswallonthe
innersidethereceptionareatotherightahead,and,totheleft
ahead,thevastrectangularexpanseoftheinteriorgarden.This
threestoryhighspace,opentotheskyabove,andwalledinfloorto
ceilingglassfromallthelevelsofthebuildingthatfrontonit,isfull
ofmajesticpalmtreesandotherfloradesignedeventuallyto
recreatesomethingofatropicalrainforestinitslushness.Justoff
thewelcomingfirst
floorreceptionarea,
thereisalargepatio
whichopensoutintotheleft,overlookingthefloorofthe
gardenonestorybelow.Thisspacelikethegardenitself
isdesignedforpatientsandtheirfamiliestobeabletospend
theoftenlonghoursrequiredinsuchtreatmentinawarm
andhumanespace.Likesomanyoftheinnovativeaspects
oftheChampalimaudCenter,thereisaveryconsciouseffort
heretoprovideintheveryfabricofthebuildingahumane
andsupportiveexperience,whereastraditionalfacilitiesso
miserablyfailtoattendtothepsychologicalandemotionalneedsoftheirclientsintheseareas.Charleshas
utilizedthewatersurroundingtheCenter,thebrilliantPortugueseskyaboveit,andtheplantlifehehas
broughtwithinittocreateanenvironmentforthepatientsandtheirfamiliesandforthosewholaboron
theirbehalfthatwillbewellgroundedinthevitallifeforcesoftheuniverse.Similarlovingattentionhas
beenpaidtothetreatmentrooms:unlikethesmall,totallyenclosed,airlessinfusionroomsmostfacilities
useforchemotherapy,thetreatmentroomshereofferthechoiceofmoreprivacyormoreinteraction,and
theyfaceontoabright,opencourtyardofaprivategardenonlyforpatients.Thisspace,viewablefromthe
treatmentrooms,alsoprovidesacontrolledexteriorenvironmentinwhichpatientscanbeoutside,yet
shelteredfromtheworld.SomuchattheChampalimaudCenterisdesignedtocreatealifecentered
experienceforpatientsandtheirfamiliesrootedinthesunandairandwater,andespeciallyintheverdant
plantlifearoundwhichthispartofthefacilityisbuilt.

Everywherearoundandpenetratingintotherectilinearcoreofthewesternwingarebeautifulcurvilinear
shapes.Inthiswaythespaceisanchoredinaclassicallytimelesssolidness,whileatthesametimebeing
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energizedbythemoreorganicsweepsofitscurves.Between
thegardenandthemainplazaisagorgeouslycomplexcurved
wallthatformsthemainsweepouttowardthewater.Itis
penetratedbyaseriesoflargeovalopeningswhichserveto
providesightlinesfromwithinouttothewaterandworld
beyond,whilealsoprovidingglimpsesfromtheoutsideintothe
tropicgreeneryandtheshinyglassspacesbeyondit(and
reflectingit).

Ontheothersideoftheplazaisacomplexofthreespaces:in
thecenteroftheprogressiontowardtheriver,behindanother
elegantlycurvingwallontheeastsideoftheplaza,isthemostgorgeoussemicircularstoneamphitheaterI
haveeverseenoutsideofancientGreekruins.(IcouldnothelpthinkingitwasaspaceinwhichIshould
wishtoseeAeschylusperformed!)

Atthebeginningoftheeasternprogressionalongtheplazais
theChampalimaudFoundationbuilding.Ithasalarge
exhibitionspaceonitsfirstfloor,andofficesfortheFoundation
onitssecond.Thesecondfloorreceptionareahasaglasswall
whichlooksoutontoacurvedtriangulargardenplazawhichjuts
outtowardtherivereversosubtlyevokingtheprowofaship.

Theeasternmostcornerofthebeginningofthecomplex
housesCharles'sfabulousauditorium.Fittedoutwithextremely
comfortableseatingwiththeexcellentvisibilityonlysharply
rakedstadiumseatingcanprovidethismindbogglingly
gorgeousspacehasahugeovoidwindowopening(filledwith
anunbrokenexpanseofclearplexiglass),whichisbreath
takingbothfortheviewsitprovidestotheoutsideandfor
magnificenceofitsownsculpturalform.

BetweentheFoundationbuildingandtheAuditoriumbuilding
connectedtoitisalarge,opencafeteriawithoutsidepatio
serviceaswell,namedTheDarwinCafe.Thisspaceisrather
wildlyand
humorously
decoratedwithenlargementsofcolorfulnaturalistdrawingsby
Darwinhimself.Perhapsmostimportantly,itservesextremely
deliciousandcreativefoodtotallyunexpectedinaninstitutional
settingandisopentothepublic.

Connectingthetwohalvesofthecomplex.Charleshascreateda
beautifulglassbridgewhichspanstheplaza.Fromhisexperience
intheIndianheat,Charlesknewtocreateaircirculationwithin
thisstructure,usinganopenspiralformontheupperparttocreatearefreshing,naturalflowofair.(Inthe
photographtotheright,youarelookingbackouttowardLisbonsareaknownasBelmandyoucansee
howCharleshasalsodrawnthewarmcoloroftheLisbonurbanfabricintothesiteaswell.)

Allofthedetailsofthesebuildingsareelegant:thefinishesseemquiteperfect,andCharles'scolorsenseis
superb.Throughoutthecomplexestherearebitsoftrimaroundwindowsandevenwholewallsoftherichest
yelloworangecolorreminiscentofatraditionalcoloroneseesintheoldbuildingsofLisbon,butofa
depthandsaturationthatispureCharlesandalloftheothercoloredelementsifthispredominantlywhite
interiorspacearesplendid.

Buttheveryheartofthiscomplexisthesweepoftheplazathatcarriesoneforwardthroughthecenterofit.
Thecurvesleadoneforwardandaroundonaslightlyinclinedpaththatcarriestheeyeoffintoinfinity.
Somewhereintotheprogression,oneseesthetwomonolithiccementcolumnsCharleshaspositionedatthe
culminationoftheplaza.Thesebeautifulformsarenaturalconcreteintheircolor,exceptthatintheupper
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mostportionbluepigmenthas
beenprogressivelyblendedinto
theconcrete,enhancingtheeffect
thattheyseemtoblendintothe
skyabove.Asonenearsthe
columns,onebeginstoseethe
waterbeyond:theinfinity
reflectingpondjustbeyondthe
columns,andtheTagusRiverand
ultimatelytheAtlanticOcean
beyondthat.Theeffectasone
approachesitisquiteamazing:first
oneseesanundifferentiatedpresence
ofwater,andeventuallyonebecomes
awarethatitispartamanmadepond,partnaturalbodyofwater,
movingoffintotheunknowndistance.Inthemiddleofthepond
isanambiguousdomeshapedpresencejustemergingfromunder
thewaterthatseemstosuggestareferencetotheunknown
monstersofthedeepbutinanottoofrighteningaway(perhaps
anodtothefactthattherearescaryelementstoallofthiseven
ifthemainthrustistoencourageonetofeelreassuringlyrootedinthegrandmovementoflife).

ThisissitetheplacefromwhichPortugueseexplorerssetsailto
discovernewworlds,andhopefullytheChampalimaudCenterwillbe
theplaceinwhichscientistsmanagetodiscovernewandbetter
treatmentsforcancer.Meanwhile,itisaninspiringoutgrowthofthe
enlightenedideasanddreamsoftheChampalimaudFoundationandof
theCityofLisbonandthecountryofPortugalanditwasinpart
undertakentomarkthe100thanniversaryofthefoundingofthe
Portugueserepublic.Itisalsotheculminationoftheideasandartistic
creativityofamagnificentmanCharlesCorrea.Theinteraction
betweentheseelementshasproducedanedificeofmonumentalarchitecturalimportanceandmagnificence.

Youmayfindithelpfultoviewthisflyoveranimationofplanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Swm4vc7i4U8

AndhereisCharlessessayabouttheoriginsoftheplan:

INTRODUCTION
ThefirsttimeIsawthesitewasonApril2nd,2007.WewereplanningavisittoBoston,whenthe
DirectoroftheChampalimaudFoundation,JooBotelho,phonedtosaytheyweregettingawonderful
waterfrontsitejustneartheTorredeBelem,andcouldIcometoPortugalrightaway?IhadvisitedBelem
manyyearsbeforeandofcourseIrememberedthatextraordinarymomentalongthecoastlinewherethe
riverTagusstartstomergewiththeAtlanticOcean.Forme,thiswasaveryspecialplace.HowdidVasco
daGamaandtheothergreatNavigatorsfindthecourageandimaginationtosaildownthatbend,takethat
cornerandplungeintotheunknownoceanthatlaybeyond?Itseemedanextraordinarilyaptmetaphorfor
thecuttingedgescientificdiscoveriesthattheFoundationhopedthenewChamapalimaudCentrewould
engender.

IrememberwearrivedinLisbonsometimeintheafternoon(afteranallnightflightformBombay,and
changeofplanesinFrankfurt).IwenttomeetJooalmostrightaway,asIwashopingtoseethesite
beforeitgrewdark.Butbythetimewegotthere,thegatehadbeenlocked,sowestartedwalkingdown
thepublicriverfrontpromenadethatskirtstheedgeofthesite.Ithadbeguntodrizzle,andthoughneither
ofushadraincoatsorumbrellas,wekeptpressingon,soJoocouldshowmetheconfluenceoftheriver
andtheocean.Hekeptsaying:itsjustalittlefurtheronitsjustaroundthecornerandsoon.Finally,we
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turnedback.Theexperienceisstillextremelyvividinmymemory.Thatnight,goingtosleep,Iknewthat
whateverelsewedid,thesitemustbestructuredalongapowerfularchitecturaldiagonalaxis,anopento
skyspace,goingrightfromtheentrancetotheoppositecorner,whereyoufinallyseetheriverbeginning
tomergewiththeoceanandthegreatunknown.

Afterthat,everythingfellnaturallyintoplace.Tossinginbedthatnight,Istartedimaginingtwo
powerfulstonewallsdefiningthataxisbutIsoonrealisedthattherehadtobeotherconnectionstothe
existingpublicpromenadealongthewaterfront.Sobymorningtheconcepthadmetamorphosedinto
threevolumesofbuiltform,withthepublicplazainbetween.Thelargestvolumewouldofcoursehouse
themainfacilities:thedoctors,thepatients,theresearchersandallthesupportsystemsandspacesthey
required.Thesmallervolumewouldbetheconferencecentre,withitsancillaryfacilities,theauditorium,
restaurant,andtheFoundationoffices.Thesetwovolumeswouldbeconnectedbyaglassbridge.The
thirdvolumewouldbeanopenairamphitheatre,facingtheriver,availabletothecitizensofLisbonforfree
concerts,scientificlecturesanddiscussions,andsoforth.

Inbetweenthesethreevolumeswouldbethepublicplazaleadingfromtheentrancedriveway
diagonallythroughtotheoppositeendofthesite.Theplazalevelwouldbeimperceptiblyslopedupward,
sothatasonemovestowardstheocean,allonereallyseesaheadisthesky.Thevastenigmaticsky.
TwohugemonolithcolumnswouldannouncepresenceoftheInfiniteUnknownthatliesbeyond.Andas
onefinallyreachesthosemonoliths,onesees..nottheriver,northeocean..butapoolofwater...in
whichthereisamysteriousobject.Whatisit?Thebackofaturtle?Amalevolentjellyfish?Anexotic
island?Itiswhatyouhavesetouttodiscover.Andwhenyoureachthishighpoint...magicallythe
waterofthepondseemstomergewiththeriverbeneathit...andthencewiththevastAtlanticocean
beyond.

OverthenextfewweeksIquicklysketcheduptheseideasintocoherentdrawingsandsentthemto
Joowhoimmediatelyunderstoodtheconcept.ItwasthensenttoHillier,whoweretheconsultantsfor
thelabsandclinicsandluckily,itreceivedtheirsupportaswell.ThatwasacrucialmomentIshallnever
forget.Noprojectcanbebetterthantheclientwhocommissionsitforultimatelysomuchdependson
theirimagination,andtheirdeterminationtomakeithappen.ThisiswheretheChampalimaudFoundation
cameuptrumps.Andthiswhythreeandhalfyearslater(i.e.fromthedateIfirstsawthissite)wecould
have,incredibly,theInaugurationceremonybythePresidentofPortugaltocelebratethe100th
anniversaryofthefoundingoftheRepublic.

Incrediblebecauseaprojectofthissizeandcomplexityinvolvesthediverseskillsofavastarrayof
specialisedconsultants,whounderstandandcandealwiththedetailedrequirementsofthedoctorsand
theirdiagnosticequipment,thepatientsandtheirtherapysessions,thescientistsandtheirresearch
laboratories,etcandwehavetointegratetheminamannerthatdidnotdiminishordilutetheoverall
concept.Finallywhentheworkingdrawingshadbeencompleted,constructionstartedonsite.Thiswas
anotherkeymomentforinarchitectureasminimalistasthis,thestructureandthefinishesmustbe
impeccable.Firstcametheconcretecolumns,beamsandslabsstartingwiththebasement.Theywere
beautifullydone,andtoaveryhighstandard.Thenthestonecladding.WehadchosenLiozstoneand
prepareddrawingsshowingtheexactdimensionsofeverystoneoneverysurface.Again,beautifully
done.Thenfinallytheglass.Lastofalltheoverheadbridge:whichmustbeagossamerthingofglassand
steeltensionwires.Whatwegotwasperfect:asuperblyengineeredandfabricatedpieceofengineering
jewelry.Theelegantwayitconnectsthetwostonewallsoneithersideisunforgettable.

SometimesIlookbackandwonderhowitallcametogethersosmoothly...andwhatwouldhave
happenedifwhenJooandIvisitedthesiteonAril2nd,2007,thatgatehadnotbeenlockedorifithad
notbeendrizzling.Thenwewouldhavejustwalkedinthoughthegateandseen...aperfectlyflatsite
withtreesandafewsheds.Andperhapsthentheprojectmighthaveendeduplookinglikemostother
researchlabsjustarectangularboxwithaprotectivefenceallaround?Ontheotherhand,perhaps
not.ForIbelievethatarchitecturemustalwaysbeinformedbyitssite.NorbertSchulzhaswritten
eloquentlyaboutwhathecallstheGenusLoci,theessentialmeaningofasiteandArchitecturesunique
responsibilitytoexpress,torelease,thatmeaning,AmusiciancanplaythesameChopinconcertone
eveninginTokyoandthenextinBrazilandthethirdinPariswitheverynoteexactlythesame.Butnot
theArchitect.Forabuildingisrootedinthesoilonwhichitstands,Intheclimate,inthetechnology,inthe
cultureandintheaspirations!ofthesocietythatusesit.Thisiswhythesamebuildingcannotbe
repeatedanywhereandeverywhereintheworld

NowwhenIreviewthewholeexperience,Iamastonished(andgrateful!)thattheChampalimaud
Foundationhadthecourageandvisiontobacksuchawayoutconfigurationofbuiltformanddecidetogo
ahead.Ittakesextraordinarydriveanddeterminationontheclientsparttogetaprojectthissizebuiltso
beautifullyandontime.Forinthisproject,whatstandsoutaretwothings:thearchitecturalexpression
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ofthegenuslociofthissite,andtheclientsamazingempathyandencouragementforwhatwewere
tryingtoachieve.

***
Inconclusion,ImustrepeatwhatIsaidattheInauguration,viz.thatImproudthisprojectisNOTa
MuseumofModernArt.Onthecontrary,itusesthehighestlevelsofcontemporaryscienceandmedicine
tohelppeoplegrapplingwithrealproblemscancer,braindamage,goingblind,Andtohousethese
cuttingedgeactivities,wetriedtocreateapieceofarchitecture.ArchitectureasSculpture.Architecture
asBeauty.Beautyastherapy.

AndwehavealsoattemptedtouseNATUREastherapy.TheWATERaroundus.TheSKYabove.
ThebenisonoftheRAINFORESTremindingusoftheinfinitefecundityofnatureanditspowertoheal
us.Allthesearetherapyforthepatients.

OfcoursewehaveasiteofastonishingBeautyandgreathistoricMemorytheplacefromwhichwent
forththegreatVoyagesofDiscovery,aperfectanalogofthediscoveriesthatcontemporaryscientistswill
bemakinghere,onthisverypieceofland.Thisiswhymorethanhalfthesitehasbeengivenbacktothe
citizensofLisbontocelebratetheirhistorywithoutinanywaycompromisingtheprivacyofthemedical
activities,andviceversa.Thesiteplanisayangyangpatternofinterlockingspaces,focusedalonga
centralplazainwhich,theslightupwardslopeiscrucial.Foritchangesyoursightlinesandyour
horizon.(Itisnotwhatyousee,butwhatyoudontsee).

Lastly,Iamproudthatthisprojecttriestoexpresstheessentialnature,thegenusloci,ofthishistoric
siteinBelemwithoutresortingtoersatzversionsofthearchitectureofthepast.No,wehaveused
throughoutacontemporaryvoicetoexpressnotonlythetruthaboutthissitebutalsotocelebrateavery
crucialmoment(arguablytheDEFININGmoment)inthehistoryofthePortuguesenation.

CharlesCorreaOctober2010

ReturntoDeadParrothomepage.

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