Vibrant Mosaic Façade Created From a Rainbow Array of Recycled Barrel Lids

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

An array of recycled rainbow-colored barrel lids lines the façade of the Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design (National Arts, Crafts, and Design Center) in Mindelo on Sao Vicente island that's part of the Cabo Verde archipelago. Created by Ramos Castellano Arquitectos, the vibrant circles are a unique outer shell to the renovated space within.  They are not only eye-catching, but also functional; the lids can be angled (like blinds), which allows better control of airflow and sunlight on the property and the ability to passively maintain the internal temperature of the site.

The architects, Eloisa Ramos and Moreno Castellano, view the façade as different ways to pay tribute to the diverse aspects of Mindelo. Each barrel, for instance, is seen as a musical note. “We wanted to use the perceptual phenomenon of synesthesia so a Caboverdian composer and multi-instrumentist, Vasco Martins, was invited to participate and wrote the music behind the colors,” they said in a statement. The result paid homage to “the musical traditions of the islands and transmitting a visual musical joy to the square.”

The mosaic appearance stands out in a sea of traditional architecture, which is primarily white and gray. It's ideal for a place that’s centered on creativity and is a way of connecting to the greater urban environment. “[T]he barrels are used for everything, as containers and as materials with many uses,” Ramos and Castellano explain. The area, which is an archipelago, has a history of trade. “Our approach was to knock down the walls and open the patio to the city and to use those barrels caps and create a detached skin that covers the entire museum, paying homage to this simple object that is so entrenched into the lives of the people of Mindelo.”

An array of recycled rainbow-colored barrel lids lines the façade of the Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design (National Arts, Crafts, and Design Center) in Mindelo on Sao Vicente island.

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Created by Ramos Castellano Arquitectos, the vibrant circles are a unique outer shell to the renovated space within.

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

They are not only eye-catching but functional.

Ramos Castellano Barrel FacadeRamos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

The lids can be angled (like blinds), which allows better control of airflow and sunlight on the property and the ability to passively maintain the internal temperature of the site.

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Barrel Facade

Ramos Castellano Arquitectos: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ramos Castellano Arquitectos. 

Related Articles:

6,000 Strips of Japanese Washi Tape Converge To Create a Curtain of Rainbows

Rainbow Panels Transform Kindergarten Into a Kaleidoscope of Color

Interview: Artist Stretches Delicate Strands of Thread to Produce Awe-Inspiring Rainbows Indoors

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.

Sponsored Content