Alvaro siza

. . .S P A C E P O E T

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

Biography Born 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 (195558); 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).

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

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 DONT HAVE WINDOWS.

Major works:
Swimming pools, Leca de Palmeira, Poriugal, 1966 Pinto e Sotto Maior Bank, Oliveira de Azmeis, Poriugal, 1974 J.M. Teixeira House, Taipas Guimaraes, Portugal, 1980 Borges and Irmao Hank, Vila do Conde, Portugal, 1986 "Joao de Deus" Kindergarten, Penafiel, Portugal, 1988 Residential complex Schilderswijk West, The Hague. Netherlands, 1988 School of Architecture, Porto University in Porto, 1992 Teachers Training College, Setubal, Portugal, 1991 Vitra Factory, Weil-am-Rein, Germany, 1994 Centro Galiziano (Museum of Modern Art), Santiago de Compostela, Spain 1994 Manzana del Revellin Cultural Centre, Ceuta, Portugal, 1997 Architect's Office, Porto, 1998 Boavista Residential Complex, Porto, 1998 Serrakves Museum and Foundation, Porto, 1999 " There are two different words in portuguese that mean 'to look' and 't o see and understand'. The tool of an architect is to be able to see.

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

Inspirations : Antonio Gaudi Frank Lloyd Wright Alvar Aalto Le Corbusier The heritage of Portugal Minimalism of Mies Van Der Rohe

"ARCHITECTS DON'T

INVENT ANYTHING, THEY TRANSFORM

REALITY."

Projects Highlight : 1.Influenced by 18th century Portuguese housing 2.No main entrance no main faade Just more expressing south facing site . 3.As if people think that they grow here & there by Chance 5.The windows are like loopholes to merge with the landscapes he used them as frames 6. He does not wish to make the building isolated So He merged the buildings with the apartments behind the school & the existing forest & trees 7. its like pieces of puzzles unassembled 8.its hard to figure out how to approach 9. The building outline looks almost like human. 10. Students have the Riverview. The officers have the road side view 11. Siza loves to play with sharp angles and diagonals. 12. His idea for depth in light & variation is very important 13. The circular exhibition area has supplementary light from the roof

"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."