Alvaro Siza: School Of Architecture

Summary

This video explores the architecture faculty at the University of Porto, designed by Alvaro Siza between 1985 and 1996. The design embodies functionalism while embracing freedom of expression through playful use of geometry, light, and form. Siza's project is shaped by the surrounding landscape, with buildings scattered across a triangular plot and linked by creative use of space. The faculty's design encourages movement, exploration, and collaboration. It stands as a dynamic 'city of architecture,' reflecting both modernity and the architect's reverence for traditional Portuguese forms, despite the complexities and constraints of the site.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto, designed by Álvaro Siza, was built between 1985 and 1996, marking a shift from traditional architecture education at the Fine Arts School to a new, dedicated faculty for architecture.
• 🏛️ Álvaro Siza, a former student of the Fine Arts School, was awarded the project. He is renowned for his work in Portugal, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, and is considered one of the leading contemporary architects.
• 🛠️ Siza's approach to architecture emphasizes the importance of both functionality and freedom in design, allowing architecture to break free from constraints and develop creatively.
• 🌳 The building’s site is located on the banks of the Douro River in Porto, with the first Pavilion completed in 1985. The building integrates the natural landscape, using a garden and existing trees to shape the architectural experience.
• 🏗️ The Faculty complex is composed of several separate buildings, deliberately designed to contrast with one another like puzzle pieces, incorporating both geometric order and random elements.
• 🧭 Siza intentionally avoided traditional architectural markers like a central entrance or main façade, preferring a more subtle interaction with its surroundings and a playful use of landscape and trees to conceal its full form.
• 🏙️ The project’s design was influenced by the triangular shape and incline of the plot, creating a series of interlinked buildings and outdoor spaces, with an emphasis on small, group-oriented classrooms.
• 📚 The faculty building’s layout was designed to foster collaboration and movement, with connected towers and underground corridors, offering both direct and meandering routes through the space, encouraging spontaneous interactions.
• 🎭 Siza embraced contrasts in lighting throughout the building, creating different atmospheres—from bright sunlight in the gardens to intimate half-light in the corridors and classrooms—similar to the light play seen in the Alhambra in Granada.
• 🎨 Siza’s architecture often plays with geometries, angles, and diagonals, giving the building a sculptural quality. Structural elements are transformed into playful features, blurring the line between architecture and art.
• 🚧 Despite its architectural brilliance, the Faculty remains somewhat isolated, with unfinished peripheral surroundings and limited visibility from the rest of the campus due to lack of funds and external support.
• 🏙️ Siza’s design philosophy revolves around creating buildings that interact with their environment, responding to the existing context rather than imposing an isolated, grand design. His buildings evolve over time, never fully finished.

Q & A

What is the significance of the separation of the architecture faculty from the Fine Arts School of Porto?

The separation marked a significant shift in the way architecture was taught, recognizing the growing complexity and autonomy of the profession. Before 1980, architecture was taught alongside sculpture and painting, but the increasing importance of architecture made such cohabitation impossible. This led to the creation of a dedicated architecture faculty at Porto University.

Why was Álvaro Siza chosen to design the new architecture faculty buildings?

Álvaro Siza was chosen due to his prestigious status as an architect and a former student of the Fine Arts School. He was considered one of the leading contemporary architects at the time, with experience building in various countries, including Portugal, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.

How does Álvaro Siza approach the relationship between function and form in his architecture?

Siza emphasizes that while a building's form should not solely be dictated by its function, the architect must still address functional problems. He believes that architecture becomes truly creative when it transcends function, allowing for freedom and innovation in the design process.

What challenges did the architecture faculty face during its construction?

The project faced significant delays due to ongoing disagreements among faculty members about the best location on the site. Despite being a smaller faculty with only 500 students, it struggled to secure land and funding. It wasn't until 1986 that a large plot of land was secured, and construction continued for many years, with the faculty being inaugurated only in 1996.

How did Álvaro Siza design the faculty to integrate with its environment?

Siza used the surrounding landscape and natural elements, such as trees, to blend the buildings into the environment. The design intentionally lacks a clear main entrance or facade, and the buildings are partially hidden among vegetation, giving the impression that they have grown organically from the site.

Why did Siza omit a building in his design, leaving a gap between two towers?

Siza removed the building to break an overly orderly line of structures and to open up the view of the river valley. Some claim the omission was due to financial constraints, but Siza himself saw it as a deliberate design choice to create a more dynamic and engaging space.

What is the significance of the faculty's layout in terms of organization?

The layout is a deliberate expression of geometric principles and reflects the division between different functions within the faculty. Siza designed the faculty as a small town with separate buildings and clear pathways, encouraging interaction and movement between spaces while maintaining a sense of freedom and exploration.

How does Álvaro Siza handle the use of light in his architecture?

Siza carefully manipulates light and shadow, creating a variety of lighting effects throughout the building. He values both light and half-light, and uses architectural elements like courtyards, arcades, and reflective surfaces to control the intensity of light, creating a dynamic interplay of illumination in the spaces.

How does the design of the faculty reflect Álvaro Siza's view on architecture as a discipline?

Siza views architecture as a dynamic process that extends beyond the completed building. His designs invite continual rethinking and adaptation, encouraging students to consider how space can be shaped and experienced. The architecture faculty itself is a teaching tool, constantly offering new perspectives and challenges for those studying the discipline.

Why does Siza include playful elements like sharp angles and diagonals in the design?

Siza enjoys incorporating sharp angles and diagonals to create a sense of movement and visual interest. These elements help break up the space, adding a sculptural quality to the architecture and reflecting his desire to engage the viewer's perception and invite exploration within the building.