Centro comunitário de artes cénicas: projecto arquitectónico para a companhia de artes Makwerhu

Abstract

This Final Graduation Project proposes the development of a Community Performing Arts Centre for the Makwerhu Arts Company, a theatre group based in an urban neighbourhood lacking adequate cultural facilities. The project responds to the need for a proper and well-equipped space for the practice, training, and performance of the performing arts. Currently, the group rehearses in the church where it was founded and holds some of its events outdoors in the neighbourhood. The architectural proposal aims to integrate sensitively into the community's social and urban context, promoting cultural inclusion, access to art, and the appreciation of local talent. The proposed centre consists of a multifunctional main hall with a stage, an open-air foyer, administrative spaces, and support areas, all developed within a single plot. The methodology included local data collection, community surveys, case studies, and the analysis of the functional and spatial needs of the Arts Company. This work seeks to contribute to the discussion on the role of architecture as a tool for social and cultural transformation in peripheral urban areas.