ROUTE
FORMA DA VIZINHANÇA
ARCHITECTURE AND ART FESTIVAL
ARCHITECTURE AND ART FESTIVAL
[ MORABEZA ]
Between the Lameiras Urban Garden and the adjoining picnic park lies a fertile field of relationships: on one side, the act of planting; on the other, the act of sharing a meal.
It is in this intersection of complementary practices — cultivating and nourishing — that the proposal by the RAM collective, an architecture studio based in Mindelo, Cape Verde, is situated. Drawing inspiration from the Cape Verdean concept of Morabeza — a cultural expression of hospitality, well-being, and belonging — the proposal is conceived as a welcoming space, fostering affection, generosity, and encounters between the garden, the park, and the local community.
The central clearing of the picnic park serves as the anchor point for the structure designed by RAM. The intervention comprises two main elements — the cube and the skin — which coexist with the pre-existing picnic tables and benches. At the heart of the clearing, a five-metre cube rises, built with square-section wooden beams and reinforced with diagonal braces. These not only stabilise the structure but also filter the ways in which people move through it — guiding neighbouring bodies through the space and inviting discovery and appropriation. Inside the cube, an octagonal cylindrical prism forms an aerial skin made of lightweight mesh and metal tubes, suspended by steel cables. In contrast with the tree canopy, this delicate mesh also functions as an exhibition surface for reused local construction materials — selected by the association Nada Novo — as well as for others that may be added by the community in future.
With Morabeza, more than a structure is proposed: a posture is suggested. An architectural hospitality that welcomes and transforms the place — where planting, caring, sharing, and nourishing become vital gestures in rethinking the neighbourhood of today and tomorrow.
It is in this intersection of complementary practices — cultivating and nourishing — that the proposal by the RAM collective, an architecture studio based in Mindelo, Cape Verde, is situated. Drawing inspiration from the Cape Verdean concept of Morabeza — a cultural expression of hospitality, well-being, and belonging — the proposal is conceived as a welcoming space, fostering affection, generosity, and encounters between the garden, the park, and the local community.
The central clearing of the picnic park serves as the anchor point for the structure designed by RAM. The intervention comprises two main elements — the cube and the skin — which coexist with the pre-existing picnic tables and benches. At the heart of the clearing, a five-metre cube rises, built with square-section wooden beams and reinforced with diagonal braces. These not only stabilise the structure but also filter the ways in which people move through it — guiding neighbouring bodies through the space and inviting discovery and appropriation. Inside the cube, an octagonal cylindrical prism forms an aerial skin made of lightweight mesh and metal tubes, suspended by steel cables. In contrast with the tree canopy, this delicate mesh also functions as an exhibition surface for reused local construction materials — selected by the association Nada Novo — as well as for others that may be added by the community in future.
With Morabeza, more than a structure is proposed: a posture is suggested. An architectural hospitality that welcomes and transforms the place — where planting, caring, sharing, and nourishing become vital gestures in rethinking the neighbourhood of today and tomorrow.
RAM
RAM is an architecture and design collective based in Mindelo, Cape Verde, founded in 2022 by Bruno Oliveira, Hugo Lopes, and Jakob Kling. Their practice stems from a commitment to the challenges of Cape Verdean reality and a search for contextually grounded responses, through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach. In tune with contemporary debates in design and architecture, the collective proposes a critical and situated mode of action, where people are active participants in the process and solutions are developed in close proximity. Rejecting organisational structures based on market logics, RAM operates in an open and experimental manner, cultivating a platform for shared dialogue and production. Still in a phase of establishment, the collective moves forward with a strong desire for expansion.
INSTALLATION TECHNICAL
CREDITS
ARCHITECTURE
RAM
(Bruno Oliveira, Hugo Lopes, Jakob Kling)
COLLABORATION
NADA NOVO
(Cláudia Escaleira, Jonny Pugh)
Joaquim Vinagre
PRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY
Artworks
RAM
LOCAL PARTNERSHIP
Nuno Flores Arquitetura
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Calvin Middel
Lisa Reis
Rory Ronson
Urban gardeners of Quinta das Lameiras
CREDITS
ARCHITECTURE
RAM
(Bruno Oliveira, Hugo Lopes, Jakob Kling)
COLLABORATION
NADA NOVO
(Cláudia Escaleira, Jonny Pugh)
Joaquim Vinagre
PRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY
Artworks
RAM
LOCAL PARTNERSHIP
Nuno Flores Arquitetura
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Calvin Middel
Lisa Reis
Rory Ronson
Urban gardeners of Quinta das Lameiras