Social Building for Nautical Club "A Guarda"

The natural area of the mouth of the river Miño belongs to the protected area of the "Baixo Miño", which with almost 3000 Ha, is the Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the largest Natura 2000 Network in the region. They are saline waters where marine and fluvial species coexist, giving rise to an exceptional faunal and floral biodiversity.

In this framework are the facilities of the old shipyard "Joaquín Castro" which developed large boats such as the replica of the "Carabela Pinta" built in commemoration of the V Centenary today moored in a dock in Baiona. New technologies and machinery have forced the location of the facilities to change, leaving the buildings in a state of near ruin.

The rails that are preserved and that served to move the boats from the water to the different levels, will be the backbone of the project and the link between the three ships well differentiated in use position and volume.

The object of the project will be a Social Building, which will also be the headquarters and nerve center of the activity of the Nautical Club "A Garda". Since right next door is the Tennis Club "Codesal" has chosen to complement the facilities, and not repeat the existing ones in this one. In this way the distribution of the spaces of this Social Building will have two clearly differentiated and divided areas, for members to use the most private areas, while visitors relax and inform in public areas, also enjoying the magnificent views of the mouth of the river Miño. The main idea of the project is based on the unification of the rooms and activities, so that the public and private parts coexist comfortably.

The presence of a beach with quite an influx of public was one of the points to consider in the design. The public car park must have a clear and direct path to the beach, without having to dodge the building, but also without letting it go unnoticed. This caused the opening of a wide opening in one of the naves which allows a direct view of the blue of the water in contrast to the sand of the beach. Throughout this transition, one can glimpse the movement of people inside, inviting one to discover an interior of pure lines.

The main access is made in the most historic area, the one corresponding to the rails, and the first nave, which is completely open to the outside, acquires a special visual force. Both the visual ensemble and the perception of the textures are so strong that it can even transport the visitor to that time when he could still get lost among boats and pieces of wood. This is the main reason why the open nave will house a museum area in which the inner rail will come to life again, supporting exhibition elements that show the ways of anchoring the boats to the rails, as well as their finishes.

In order for the three main naves to be visually unified into a single set, the most recent nave was lengthened, so that it twins with the other two. In this way the area of intersection of the three ships will be the one destined to the “lobby” of distribution, vertical communication and point of departure and relation of spaces.

Inside, this transversal nave will have two levels, although from the outside the original appearance will be preserved. The lower level is intended mainly for public use, while the upper level is the rooms for club members. A smooth element in the shape of an inverted "U" will serve to unify the two levels, as well as the location of the label of the set and also hides access to the interior, as a shelter.

The main views are monopolized by the area located in the part facing the beach, for this reason the main room occupied by this space is the Cafeteria-Restaurant, thanks to which, it will become the preferred meeting place for both visitors and members .