The book titled "Álvaro Siza. Viagem sem Programa" is a publication dedicated to portraits and to travel drawings that the Portuguese architect executed over a period of sixty years. A range of sketchbooks and folders with a selection of drawings from Siza’s private archive is also available.

On the occasion of the venice Biennale reprint of the book "Álvaro Siza. Viagem sem Programa", dedicated to the famous portughese architect.

After the successful results achieved with the first edition, the book “Álvaro Siza. Viagem sem Programa” has been reprinted and can now be found in major bookshops. The publication is dedicated to portraits and to travel drawings that the Portuguese architect executed over a period of sixty years. A range of sketchbooks and folders with a selection of drawings from Siza’s private archive is also available.

The book – authored by Raul Betti and Greta Ruffino and published by Red Publishing – deals with the most intimate part of Siza’s life. In a charming first-person narrative, it presents 53 exceptional drawings selected personally by Siza from countless diaries and sketchbooks, taking the reader from Porto towards the end of the fifties where Siza started to make his way in the world of architecture and then on to current themes such as project ethics or the crisis that currently besets the historical centres of our cities.

Álvaro Siza – who as a child dreamed of becoming a fireman, an opera singer, and then a sculptor – talks about his most important encounters with persons and colleagues with whom he established long-lasting relationships both in terms of professional dealings and as friends.

And it is especially in the company of friends that Siza loved to draw the great many portraits, and self-portraits not lacking in irony, included in the publication. Siza’s eidetic memory enables his drawings to narrate – with the immediacy of a snapshot – the social events he shared in the company of his closest friends including Eduardo Souto de Moura, Fernando Tavora, Alcino Soutinho, Vittorio Gregotti, Gabriele Basilico and many others.

“I like to draw.. It helps me to relax and to shake off the stress and the concentration on work, especially during those periods with endless deadlines to meet - comments the Portuguese architect - Drawing frees you. The advantage of drawing is that it lets you be analytical and, at the same time, feel the environment”.

The book also includes portraits of family members executed in his youth and drawings recalling Siza’s many trips throughout the world in places like Brazil, Cape Verde, Cuba, India, and the United States. It unfolds a succession of dreams, memories, and faces of unknown persons and all the friends encountered in that extraordinary “journey without a plan”, which is life itself.

The book’s two authors consider “It was a privilege to select these drawings together with Alvaro Siza. Their beauty is further enhanced by the high quality print and paper used to produce the book as well as the range of notebooks and folders”.

“It involved an in-depth study on the materials and a digital image restoration process for the older drawings that – continue the authors – enabled enhancing every line traced with an ink pen or a simple ballpoint or pencil”.

TECHNICAL DATA.-

BOOK.-

Álvaro Siza - Viagem Sem Programa - Interview and Portraits.
Edited by Greta Ruffino e Raul Betti.
Languages.- Italian / English / Spanish / Portuguese.
Pages.- 168 – Paperback.
Format.- 21 x 29,7 cm.

DRAWINGS FOLDER.-

Álvaro Siza - Viagem Sem Programa - Drawings.
Selection of 10 drawings and sketches made by architect Álvaro Siza.
Format.- 43 x 30,5 cm.

NOTEBOOKS.-

Álvaro Siza - Viagem Sem Programa - Notebook
3 notebooks to draw, write notes and ideas.
Pages.- 64 – Binding - Singer Sewn – hand-cut.
Size.- 14,5 x 20,5 cm.

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Álvaro Joaquim Melo Siza Vieira was born in Matosinhos (near Porto), in 1933. From 1949-55 he studied at the School of Architecture, University of Porto. His first built project was finished in 1954. From 1955-58 he was collaborator of Arch. Fernando Távora. He taught at the School of Architecture (ESBAP) from 1966-69 and was appointed Professor of "Construction" in 1976. He was a Visiting Professor at the Ècole Polythéchnique of Lausanne, the University of Pennsylvania, Los Andes University of Bogotá and the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University; he taught at the School of Architecture of Porto (jubilate in 2003).

He is the author of many projects such as: the Boa Nova Tea House and Restaurant; 1200 dwellings built in Malagueira, Évora; the Superior School of Education in Setúbal, the new School of Architecture in Porto; the Library of Aveiro University; the Museum of Modern Art in Porto; the Church and Parochial Centre in Marco de Canavezes; the Pavilion of Portugal for EXPO '98 and the Pavilion of Portugal in Hannover 2000 (with Souto de Moura); the dwelling and offices complex of “Terraços de Bragança” in Lisbon; and he has rebuilt the burnt area of Chiado in Lisbon since 1988, including the projects for some buildings like Castro e Melo, Grandella, Chiado Stores, and others.

He has been coordinated the plan of Schilderswijk's recuperation in The Hague, Holland, since 1985, which finished in 89; in 1995 he finished the project for blocs 6-7-8 in Ceramique Terrein, Maastricht.

In Spain he has completed the projects for the Meteorological Centre of Villa Olimpica in Barcelona; the Museum of Contemporary Art of Galicia and the Faculty of Information Sciences in Santiago de Compostela; the Rectorate of the Alicante University; Zaida building – offices, commercial and dwelling complex in Granada; Sportive Complex Cornellà de L’lobregat in Barcelona.

Cultural Centre and auditorium for the Ibere Camargo Foundation in Brazil; Municipal Centre of Rosario in Argentina; lodging-house in the Plan of Recuperation and Transformation of Cidade Velha in Cap Vert; Serpentine Pavillion (2005) with Eduardo Souto Moura; Museum of Modern Art of Naples in Italy; Anyang Pavilion in South Korea (with Carlos Castanheira); Mimesis Museum in South Korea (with Carlos Castanheira); are to be mentioned.

He has participated in several lectures and conferences in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, England, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Canada, United States, Romania, Greece, South Korea and Sweden.

Having been invited to participate in international competitions, he won the first place in Schlesisches Tor, Kreuzberg, Berlin (now built), at the recuperation of Campo di Marte in Venice (1985) and at the renewal of Casino and Café Winkler, Salzburg (1986); Cultural Centre for the La Defensa, Madrid (with José Paulo Santos) (1988/89); J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California (with Peter Testa) (1993); Pietà Rondanini Room, Sforzesco Castell, Milan (1999); Special Plan Recoletos-Prado, Madrid (with Juan Miguel Hernandez Leon e Carlos Riaño) (2002); Toledo Hospital (Sánchez-Horneros office) (2003); “Atrio de la Alhambra” in Spain (with Juan Domingo Santos)(2010); “Parco delle Cave”, Lecce in Italy (with Carlos Castanheira) (2010).

He has participated in the competitions for Expo 92 in Sevilla, Spain (with Eduardo Souto de Moura and Adalberto Dias) (1986); for "Un Progetto per Siena", Italy (with José Paulo Santos) (1988); the Cultural Centre La Defensa in Madrid, Spain (1988/89); the Bibliothèque of France in Paris (1989/90), the Helsinki Museum (with Souto de Moura) (1992-93); Flamenco City of Xerez de la Frontera, Spain (with Juan Miguel Hernandez Leon) (2003).

From 1982 to 2010 has won many different awards and have been assigned with Medals of Cultural Merit from many country around the world. Doctor "Honoris Causa" in various European and International universities.

He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science; "Honorary Fellow" of the Royal Institute of British Architects; AIA/American Institute of Architects; Académie d'Architecture de France and European Academy of Sciences and Arts; Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts; IAA/International Academy of Architecture; American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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Published on: June 30, 2014
Cite: "Álvaro Siza. Viagem sem Programa" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/alvaro-siza-viagem-sem-programa> ISSN 1139-6415
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