. .

.S P

A C

E

P O

E T

UND

ERSTAND

ING

PHIL

OSO

PHY

Alv

aro

si

za BiographyBorn in 25 June 1933 in Matosinhos, just north of Porto in Portugal. Studied architecture at University of Porto, School of Architecture (1949-55). Opened his own atelier in Porto (1954) and began Alvaro Siza's career by designing smaller works, mainly residences in the late 1950s-1960s. Collaborated will) Portuguese architect Fernando Tavora (1955-58); began leaching at University of Porto (1966); became full professor (1976-present); has taught and lectured outside Portugal at Harvard University, the Ecole Poytechniquc of Lausanne, Switzerland, and Los Andes University of Bogota. Awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize (1992).Major works:Swimming pools, Leca de Palmeira, Poriugal, 1966Pinto e Sotto Maior Bank, Oliveira de Azmeis, Poriugal, 1974J.M. Teixeira House, Taipas Guimaraes, Portugal, 1980Borges and Irmao Hank, Vila do Conde, Portugal, 1986"Joao de Deus" Kindergarten, Penafiel, Portugal, 1988Residential complex Schilderswijk West, The Hague. Netherlands, 1988School of Architecture, Porto University in Porto, 1992Teachers Training College, Setubal, Portugal, 1991Vitra Factory, Weil-am-Rein, Germany, 1994Centro Galiziano (Museum of Modern Art), Santiago de Compostela, Spain 1994Manzana del Revellin Cultural Centre, Ceuta, Portugal, 1997Architect's Office, Porto, 1998Boavista Residential Complex, Porto, 1998Serrakves Museum and Foundation, Porto, 1999

"ARCHITECTS DON'T INVENT ANYTHING, THEY TRANSFORM REALITY."

"ARCHITECTURE IS INCREASINGLY A PROBLEM OF USE AND REFERENCE TO MODELS... MY ARCHITECTURE DOES NOT HAVE A PRE-ESTABLISHED LANGUAGE AND DOES NOT ESTABLISH A LANGUAGE. IT IS A RESPONSE TO A CONCRETE PROBLEM, A SITUATION IN TRANSFORMATION IN WHICH I PARTICIPATE."

“ A PROJECT STARTS AS SIMPLY AN IDEA FOR A VOLUME AND THINGS ONLY GET COMPLICATED WHEN WE START PUTTING IN THE WINDOWS. THE WINDOWS CHANGE EVERYTHING, CONSTRAIN EVERYTHING. THIS IS WHY, THROUGHOUT HISTORY, LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL WORKS. THEY DON’T HAVE WINDOWS.”

" There ar

e two dif

ferent wo

rds in

portugues

e that me

an 'to loo

k' and 't o

see a

nd under

stand'. T

he tool of

an arch

itect is to

be able t

o see.”

“ in a building I like the light but also I like the half light and even the darkness too. They remedy complementary feelings.”

Project team: P. Head, A. Dias, P. Xavier, C. Porcu, structure designed by Ing. J. Araujo Sobreira History: 1986 – 1995 Location : Porto , bank of Douro Temperature : 10 to 20 degree Celsius. Program : Studios for five hundred students Administrative offices Large auditorium Exhibition hall Library Cafeteria

Theme design: Construction of a new building for the Faculty of Architecture

Inspirations :Antonio GaudiFrank Lloyd WrightAlvar AaltoLe CorbusierThe heritage of Portugal“Minimalism” ofMies Van Der Rohe Project’s Highlight :1.Influenced by 18th century Portuguese housing 2.No main entrance no main façade Just more expressing south facing site .3.As if people think that they grow here & there by Chance5.The windows are like loopholes to merge with the landscapes he used them as frames6. He does not wish to make the building isolatedSo He merged the buildings with the apartments behind the school & the existing forest & trees 7. it’s like pieces of puzzles unassembled 8.it’s hard to figure out how to approach 9. The building outline looks almost like human.10. Students have the Riverview. The officer’s have the road side view11. Siza loves to play with sharp angles and diagonals.12. His idea for depth in light & variation is very important13. The circular exhibition area has supplementary light from the roof

“ARCHITECTS LIKE GEOMETRY ,CAUSE IT HELPS US To apply more rigorous discipline & Organization To The Team work. “