NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO DA ROCHA SANCTUARY

Carnaxide, Oeiras, Portugal 2020

The project aims to restore the Sanctuary’s sense of dignity and redefine it as a place of gathering and encounter.
Three main areas are distinguished, allowing for a circular route: the surroundings of the Church and the Cave along the large retaining wall; the elevated platform connecting the Church, the Priests’ Residence, and the entrance to the Garden “Jardim da Rocha”, framed by the garden of the upper lake; and the “Jardim da Rocha” itself.
In the first area, a wide stone-paved band is created along the entire façade of the Church and the entrance to the Grotto, visually unifying multiple access points: a flat platform running beside the river leads to the Cave entrance and extends toward the lower part of the “Jardim da Rocha”; a grand staircase rises to the Church along the retaining wall, incorporating a gently sloped pedestrian ramp with resting platforms for contemplation and pause, recalling on a micro scale the Stations of the Cross and emphasizing the symbolic nature of the winding path; and a lateral ramp provides vehicular access.
This threefold access is completed by a tree-lined platform that serves as the Sanctuary’s entrance from the EVA route and simultaneously accommodates organized parking spaces defined by planting arrangements.
At the upper level, a small square has been designed as the arrival point from the external access, forming a platform that connects the Church, the Priests’ Residence, and the entrance to the “Jardim da Rocha”. This paved square, framed by the garden of the upper lake, with groundcover beneath a dense canopy, creates an interplay of shadows, fostering a more intimate and welcoming atmosphere. A paved strip along the edge of the “Jardim da Rocha” allows for parking.
Finally, within the “Jardim da Rocha”, narrow meandering pathways are entirely enveloped by vegetation, which the project fully restores, both in design and materials. The herbaceous and shrub plantings of the flowerbeds were reinforced to recover their original ornamental character, while the steep embankments were stabilized to ensure structural integrity.