This project starts with a sculpture, entitled ‘Seed’, from the contemporary Portuguese artist Rui Chafes. The piece, built in iron, finds its purpose in the universality of OJ’s mind that seeks values such as origin, purity and universal mystery.

The ‘Trojan Egg’ was the first stage of the project. The objective of this wooden egg was to create a void, revealing a new dimension and through it enhance mystery. The mystery is a condition that is very close to disappear from our civilization. This value is for us one of the main reasons for life and the egg is the dimension we choose to express it.

The Egg space was built in the centenary underground from an alpine house, and it was almost entirely constructed in pure white concrete which has been poured at once from the upper floor. The thin pure white marble on the floor, allows the light to enter the space from bellow like a halo.
The “Seed” is suspended in the air.

Team:

Sculpture: Rui Chafes

Architecture: Camilo Rebelo

Collaborators: Patrício Barbosa

Engineering: G.O.P. – Gabinete de Organização e Projectos, Lda

Structural Engineers: G.O.P. Lda. Jorge Nunes da Silva, Edgar Lima and Raquel Dias

Electric Engineers: G.O.P. Lda. Alexandre Martins (G.P.I.C.)

Mechanical Engineers: G.O.P. Lda. João Sousa (Ribeiro & Sousa)

General Contractor: Matriz - Sociedade de Construções Lda. Fernando Dias and Filipe Queiroz

Construction/Woodwork: S.P.S.S. José Simões and Pedro Simões

Construction/Marble: Mármores e Granitos A. Sousa

Construction/ Electricity: Alfredo Aguiar and João Aguiar

Photographer: Patrício Barbosa

Materials Used:

Concrete
Wood
Marble