The pool pavilion is one of several architectural renovation interventions developed for the Hotel Solar do Rosário, located in Ouro Preto, a historic city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The main objective for this project was to integrate the covered pool area with the bar and restroom spaces, as well as to completely transform the pavilion and repurpose a storage area into a spa and sauna.
The project’s first step was to create a connection between the two existing structures by demolishing the wall around the pool and building a pergola with a steel structure in corten steel, covered by glass. This structure extends between the two spaces, providing continuity and connection between them. It not only links the volumes in a light yet prominent way but also highlights the new pool entrance, improving natural lighting and creating a sheltered seating area for guests using the bar and pool.
Soapstone was chosen as the primary material for cladding, a nod to the region’s artisanal heritage, with its naturally brushed greenish-gray finish. Soapstone is abundant in this area of Minas Gerais and widely used by local artisans for crafting, bearing significant historical importance to the city. Additionally, corten steel was used for the pergola and new frames, Ouro Preto quartzite stone, wood, and hydraulic tiles, all of which contribute to the project’s overall composition.
The pavilion’s facade received new corten steel frames, replacing the former wooden-framed ones, which were replicas rather than original pieces. A new external cladding was applied, and the zenithal opening’s structure and glass were replaced to improve natural lighting in the pool area. The cornice and eaves were preserved to maintain the connection with the hotel’s other buildings and the history of the pavilion itself.
In front of the pavilion facade, there is a large outdoor area with a visual connection to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, an important colonial Baroque church. The triple arched main entrance of the church’s facade served as inspiration for the project, reflected in the three arched doorways leading to the spa and sauna areas.
Furthermore, the project aimed to meet the requested program while integrating spaces with local references and materials, honoring and valuing local culture in a contemporary way.
