One of the most spectacular and special works of modern architecture turns 50; the Pools of Marés (1961-1966). 50 years demonstrating that a pool does not have to be a simple water containment, but it can cherish and respect their fluency, assuming the natural environment.
In 1961, with only 28 years, the architect Álvaro Siza was commissioned the project of a saltwater swimming pools by the sea from the Municipality of Matosinhos, his hometown. The town where the project was developed needed a safe swimming area, as the Atlantic is an ocean of regular waves and strong winds. This ended up materializing in a complex that includes two pools - one for children and one for adults - their dressing rooms and a cafeteria, which sit with slight incisions in the field, both showing tremendous respect for the natural environment as urban. In 2011 the pools Marés became regarded as a national monument in Portugal, and now is their 50th anniversary. To commemorate this event, the Portuguese photographer Fernando Guerra sent us this great photo report.

Although the program assignment was a simple request, it challenged the tradition with its position at the transition point between ocean and land. And Siza decided not to fight the ocean, but to create a meeting point between the both enemies, a domesticity space between the rock and the open sea.

Siza was educated under the modern architecture's ideals, an architecture that includes organic shapes as Wright, who played an important role in adapting the pools to the territory, showing great respect for the natural physiognomy of the terrain, vernacular materials, and therefore the boundary conditions. The pools were designed not as part of the man or the water world, reaching the shear between both; a non limit.

A pool by definition is an artificial element, formed by a perfectly defined vessel. The idea of ​​the project's limit is replaced by the threshold; the dividing line between two parts is changed by belonging to both while the differentiation against them. Siza could not establish edges facing the ocean, so the vessels of the pools are partly built with concrete walls that merge with preexisting rocks, blurring their ends.

Besides the building that houses the main facilities it is an intermediate level, nor on the boardwalk or on the beach, making the dressing rooms elongated part gone and act as a retaining wall ride, with only its copper roof to the walk's feet.

All walls - except for the cafeteria - are drawn parallel to the road, integrated into the landscape and forming part of it. Access is through a ramp that descends between blind walls, in a gradual, slow detachment from the surface of the walk, after which turn the corner and agree to the dressing room, in which both the scale and materials - tarred wood and steel handles - continue to refer to organic, and where the bare concrete prepares the bather to the rocky landscape after. The walls are anchored to the ground as if they wanted to be part of it, leaving all facilities in full view, and with a great horizontal deck flying over them and causing a fantastic shadow play.
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Av da Liberdade, Leça da Palmeira, 4450-716
Tl: 229 952 610 / 635 222 143
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Architect
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Álvaro Siza
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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: October 19, 2016
Cite: "The Siza's Pools das Marés turn 50!" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/sizas-pools-das-mares-turn-50> ISSN 1139-6415
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