FIRST OF ALL SILENCE, OR THE PRESENCE OF SOUNDS WE CAN'T HEAR.

A moment of preparation and anticipation. The curtain comes down. We enter and everything is revealed. We move from the audience to the stage. We feel what the artists feel. We perceive a little more of that world. This is our understanding of the ambience intended for the National Sound Archive. The vault of an immeasurable heritage.

Located on Rua Coronel Vítor Alves, in Mafra, it will house the various services of the National Sound Archive, namely the conservation laboratory, audio laboratories and sound media storage rooms.

The building has five floors: an underground floor with the entrance and service areas; the open floor for technical infrastructures; the entrance floor with the offices and areas for greater interaction with visitors. Above this is the audio laboratory floor and the top floor where the storage rooms are located.

The organisation of the programme has a progressive security scheme, creating two mobility channels: one for transporting sound supports and staff, and the other for people not involved in the service.

The programme also includes the arrangement of the surrounding space for public use and a possible future expansion of the Archive building.