Alvaro Siza is a renowned Portuguese architect and recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize for designing measured drawing houses in Portugal. Born in Porto, he studied at the Porto School of Architecture from 1949 to 1955. He went on to apply his innovative and forward-thinking designs to a variety of residential and public projects. Siza is renowned for his measured drawing houses alongside other works from the drawing board to the built environment. Siza’s practice revolves around artwork, architecture, photo, drawing, and teaching. Particularly in the form of measured drawing houses, Siza’s innovative approach to Portuguese architecture saw conceptual architecture celebrated beyond Portugal’s borders. His timeless designs stand out in the context of Portugal’s architectural heritage, rooted in modernism but firmly striving for a constant sense of renewal. His measured drawing houses are highly reminiscent of Art Deco aesthetics. It observes the principles of modernist design, only to apply them differently due to the various regional materials and production processes employed. This experimentation with traditional production methods finds contemporary echoes in Siza’s projects. From the stark beauty of a building in the suburbs of Lisbon, to a cluster of small houses in the Noncultural Poliquin of the Azores, all feature the structural and technological experimentation of a committed Art Deco designer.Alvaro Siza Measured Drawing Houses in Portugal
Alvaro Siza's house designs have been widely acclaimed as iconic designs true to the roots of Art Deco architecture. His work in Oporto, Portugal, stands out as a testament to the capabilities of applying measurable art to houses for the preservation of individual beauty. Siza’s original approach to house design was to create relatively small constructions, often focused on the satisfaction of a single client. His projects in Oporto demonstrate a focus on form and proportion that gives a nod to modernist aesthetics, yet often also a highly intricate attention to detail that appeals to those in search of luxury residential spaces. Specially the local Oporto-style of house design composing of asymmetrical shapes and intricate lines is attributed to Siza’s creative talent and expertise. On a street where one will find dozens of similar buildings, the one that bears Siza’s signature stands out. The balconies, tall walls, and colourful windows all reflect Siza’s effort to bring distinction and elegance into a house. The Oporto school of architecture that Siza initially studied contributes a sublime energy to his house designs. Although his style manifests in a variety of forms, when targeting luxurious residential properties, Siza’s work almost always evokes an air of contemporary romanticism. His use of various types of materials, creative window placement, and even offbeat cantilevers all make for stunning house designs.Alvaro Siza House Designs in Oporto
This mastery of house design extends to Alvaro Siza’s house renovations as well. His creativity is showcased through his capacity for manipulating disparate elements into a harmonious whole. He is passionate about the strategy of occupying landscapes surrounding his house renovations, creating living environments that edge seamlessly towards natural topography. Siza’s architectural eye also encompasses spatial concerns and the manipulation of light within his house renovations. He applies keen attention to the way his renovations are populated with natural, interior and artificial light, shaping the atmosphere of his designs with a soft, thoughtful touch. Especially his work in applying sustainable construction techniques and creativity with materials and recycling are highly focused on preserving the natural beauty of the environment that his works are built richly.Alvaro Siza House Renovations
Villa Design is another pillar of Alvaro Siza’s talent for crafting luxurious residential spaces. Much of Siza’s villa design shows his mastery of the craft of visualizing linearity while bringing out the most of the available living space. From planning an efficient layout to applying thoughtful approaches to preserving outdoor spaces, Siza excels in creating environment-friendly and aesthetically appealing villas. Be it through his choice of materials, the colors of his walls, the layout of his work or even the spatial and structural characteristics of the building, Siza can apply his keen awareness of design to even the most sophisticated villa projects. His simple, classical aesthetics of villa designs conveys elegance without a trace of gaudiness. From the comfortable residential villa at Origem in Trancoso to the exquisite designs of the Tavila gardens and Villas Arq36, Siza’s seamless designs demonstrate a need to incorporate existing architectural context and landscapes into his projects. He pays attention to a careful balance between the interior and exterior while maintaining a strong adherence to artistic principles.Alvaro Siza Villa Design
Among Alvaro Siza's noteworthy works are the houses from the Azores-Madeira Islands. There, Siza's keen ability to innovate new typologies of homes comes to the fore. Innovative in both form and purpose, the homes of the Azores-Madeira Islands are a blend of modernism and traditional Portuguese architecture. Siza was particularly good at creating homes that were contemporary in design yet still preserved the historic elements of the Islands. For example, he incorporated the original stone of the Azores-Madeira Islands into many of his house designs. He also made sure that the materials used in the construction of these homes were appropriate for the climate and culture of the area. Siza also designed many outdoor spaces to extend the living area of the houses. He was impressed by the natural beauty of the landscape and worked to preserve it - thus he has incorporated many terraces, courtyards and balconies into his designs. Combined with his Art Deco aesthetic, this adds a unique charm to the houses of the Azores-Madeira Islands.Alvaro Siza Houses from the Azores-Madeira Islands
When it comes to sustainability in house design, Alvaro Siza can be considered one of the foremost innovators. He strives to reduce his houses’ carbon footprints, employing a range of sustainable building techniques. His houses are constructed according to the environment in which they are located, in order to reduce the energy consumption of the building. Siza also encourages the use of passive solar heating and cooling, relying mainly on natural daylighting solutions and thermal insulation. Besides reducing energy consumption, Siza also focuses on the use of renewable energy sources, such as the installation of solar panels and wind turbines, whenever possible. The preservation of the environment is also another key aspect of Siza’s sustainable house designs. His projects often incorporate green spaces, encouraging a more holistic approach to energy production and consumption. Whenever possible, Siza recognizes the need to include the抻preservation and revitalization of existing vegetation and topography, instead of constructing over it.Alvaro Siza Sustainable House Design
The ‘Branch Pavilion’ houses in Portugal are another celebrated work from Alvaro Siza. These unorthodox wooden structures named after their irregular roof shapes feature extendable branches, which help to manipulate and navigate through them. Siza’s Branch Pavilions are characterised by elegant curves and an unmistakable design that pays tribute to modernist aesthetics. Their scale remains relatively unobtrusive –– a deliberate effort to blend into the surrounding landscape and enhance the spectator’s connection to nature. Their light construction makes them more approachable, and the use of timber – a dynamic material – lends them an organic appearance in sync with their natural surroundings. The Pavilion Houses are an example of Siza’s ability to transcend traditional architectural limits while respecting the contextual elements of the site.Alvaro Siza Branch Pavilion Houses in Portugal
Alvaro Siza’s imaginative floating houses extend his capacity for creativity. Located on the Chao island in Ubatuba, Brazil, these eye-catching houses are deviant from his traditional architecture. With their unusual design, they appear to be hovering above the tranquil waters of Ubatuba, while still being firmly grounded by the metal poles that support them. The aesthetics of these floating houses combine the maritime setting of the Chao Island with contemporary taste. They respectively provide two and three bedrooms, as well as a living area and a kitchenette. With each house sheltering a sizabledeck, these properties are crowned with a modern zinc roof, meant to protect the internal spaces from the elements while still allowing for amazing views of the surroundings of Ubatuba. The inventive concept of Siza’s floating houses strays away from traditional architecture to offer something completely original – contentment-inducing homes inspired by modernism, but grounded in a unique compositional language.Alvaro Siza Floating Houses
Alvaro Siza’s unfinished houses in Portugal present an alternative take on traditional design. Those distinct constructions have been known to be unfinished, but they are never incomplete. The beauty about Siza’s unfinished houses is that they provide the opportunity to diversify the concept of traditional design while still providing comfort. By combining different details, shapes, and materials, Siza creates a unique context for each of his unfinished houses, creating a canvas that is inviting for imagination to add to the conversation. From the intricate wooden floors and walls, to the unusual wall paintings and厚enclosed balconies, the emphasis is shifted to the combination of elements to help express this kind of unconventional beauty. The unfurnished interiors of Siza’s unfinished houses enable inhabitants to complete the space according to their own preferences and needs. There is also a distinct sense of emotion that Siza’s unfinished houses manage to provide – a feeling of agency and personal expression from the inhabitants, which enables the creation of an incredibly intimate space.Alvaro Siza Unfinished Houses in Portugal
Alvaro Siza’s box houses, or ‘Caixote’ villas, are another remarkable addition to his repertoire. The Caixote Villas are characterised by their cubic shape and double- story style, while still maintaining their social and environmental sustainability. These houses, having a relatively small footprint, are designed to be flexible to fit different kinds of sites and living requirements. The minimalist concept of the Caixote Villas also ties in its sustainability. With only natural materials used for its construction, their build enables the cost-efficient production of modestly-sized but highly comfortable homes for a range of budgets. The interiors are driven to provide both a comfortable and modern appearance with the use of wood and stone, with simple lines, cropping up in the ceilings and walls. Overall, Siza’s Caixote Villas are compact yet comfortable, and have been designed to be adaptable to any surrounding environment. In addition to their sustainable design, they also provide a stunning combination of modernist and Art Deco aesthetics, while still showcasing the skillful craftsmanship of his projects.Alvaro Siza Box Houses
The public housing projects by Alvaro Siza further demonstrate his immersive approach to architecture. He has an impressive track record of designing modern public housing projects, often relying heavily on Art Deco characteristics. These structures are characterized by crisp lines and a poise between contemporary and classical aesthetics. For example, the Carvoerio public housing project in Vigo, Portugal, includes several signature elements of Siza’s style – such as the use of simple geometric shapes, bright primary colors, and wood, glass, and metal structures. Siza’s designs also pay keen attention to the living environment of the people occupying the space – rather than advocating for monotonous structures, Siza often employs playful designs to create structures with character that are visually attractive. His attention to detail and his formal playfulness – such as balconies of irregular shapes – also come into play, readily visible in structures such as the Owens Street Public Housing project in San Francisco, USA. Given the focus on presenting attractive and livable dwellings at his public housing projects, Siza’s work is characterized by an often unconventional approach to modernist principles.Alvaro Siza Public Housing