Convento das Bernardas
This former monastery Convent das Bernardas - Rua Arquiteto Souto Moura 43 - in Tavira belonged to the Order of the Cistercians. For 300 years it was the home of the nuns of the Bernardes Convent, who were known for their egg-based sweets, toffees and religious icons. After the nuns left the monastery, it was sold by public auction in 1834 to a manufacturer who had a dough factory in it for many years.When the Entrepots company acquired the property, they asked architect Eduardo Souto de Moura to draw up a plan for the restoration and conversion into 78 apartments of T0-T3. The project was completed in 2012 and the first sale was started. In addition to the78 apartments, the complex has two swimming pools, including one with salt water in the courtyard.Despite the necessary interventions, architect Eduardo Souto da Moura has succeeded in a great way in preserving the old private atmosphere of the monastery building. By making careful openings in the old monastery walls, he manages to get enough daylight to also meet the housing requirements of a twenty-first century resident.The design and finish of this complex are of the absolute top, just as you would expect from an architect who was awarded with the Pritzker Prize in 2011 - the Nobel Prize for architects. As a reward for his efforts, the street in front of the monastery is named after Eduardo Souto de Moura.And...the monestary is a gated Community. The last time I was there i was standing in front of a closed door. Than fortunately somebody was leaving and the door closed... very slowly, just enough to put my foot between it. Photos taken from website: ttps://www.archdaily.com.br/br/769152/convento-das-bernardas-eduardo-souto-de-moura
Bibliotheca Municipal Álvaro de Campos
One of the most beautiful contemporary architectural projects in the Algarve is the Biblioteca Municipal Álvaro de Campos in Tavira opposite the Ermida de São Sebastião. This building, designed by architect Carrilho da Graca, stands on an almost completely filled-up triangular plot where the Tavira prison once used to be. In addition to the fact that the architect used the difficult plot very efficiently, he left the front facade of the prison and used it with respect for the context and subtly inserted it into his design.It has resulted in a rational library with a pleasant outdoor space by the ingenious use of the old facade as a separation from the patio with garden where it is very pleasant to relax while reading a International newspaper or book or enjoying a drink from the bar.Here not a harsh confrontation but - mainly due to the white-washed walls of both the prison and the new library - a harmonious composition, surrounded by rust-brown walls in Corten steel that frame the easy ascent to the higher square at the entrance. Photos taken from website https://cm-tavira.pt/site/cultura/edificio/
The Gilão Building
Between 1959 and 1980, architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016)designed four apartment buildings - Tv. Zacarias Guerreiro 3 - arranged in a U-shape on the corner formed by Av. Dr. Mateus Teixeira de Azevedo with the Rua Zacarias Guerreiro, commissioned by the Sociedade de Construcções Gilão.The Gilão building is one of his later and less well-known projects. Each of the five-storey blocks originally contained ten three-bedroom apartments, symmetrical to the stairwell on each of the blocks' floors.The dwellings on the ground floor were replaced by commercial spaces and the property was ordered and set back, creating a small shopping center with alleys and galleries, leading to the appearance of arcades and semi-circular arcades unknown until then in works by MGdaCosta.Due to the prominent eaves of the sloping roof, only the first row of curved roof tiles can be seen. In the composition of the facades, he resorts to some elements of his usual repertoire: balconies as small relief terraces, used as outdoor storage spaces; wooden grille with the slats rotated 45 degrees; blind masonry spandrels combined with green painted metal railings, as well as the floating lintels.You can especially recognize the project as a work by MGdC, at the corners. where the parapets and railings stick out in an overhang, which forms a kind of vertical crest. Just like he did in previous projects in Monte Gordo and Faro.The above video is an introduction to the architect Manuel Gomes da Costa
Casas geminados Raul Lino
This urban villa in Tavira (1932) proudly mentions the name and photo of the architect of this monumental house - Av. Dr. Mateus Teixeira de Azevedo 53. It was for sale and one of the "twin houses" designed by the architect Raul Lino (1879-1974) for the heirs of an important family in Tavira.He was a Portuguese architects who gave an architectural face to the "Estado Novo" of dictator Salazar. In addition to the 700 buildings he designed - mainly in and around Lisbon - he wrote for various magazines and also wrote books such as "A Casa Portuguesa".
House with Black & Yellow tiles
A surprising combination of black and yellow tiles - Av. Dr. Mateus Teixeirade Azevedo 54 - in this apartment block on the main entrance roads of Tavira. This Av. Dr. Mateus Teixeirade Azevedo became - arround 1900 - a wide connecting boulevard between the old city and the later built railwaystation on the edge of the city. Photos from the exhibition "Modernismo em Tavira": copyright @ANAFA
Building Galhardo I
Townhouses Galhardo I (1962) , with Ground floor and 1st floor at the Rua Miguel Bombarda 123-127This is one of the two Galhardo Buildings - Dr Miguel Bombarda 125A - of the architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016), The main façade maintains the symphonic set of surfaces generated from the gold number or golden ratio, underlined by the application of different materials, especially wood slats that protect windows and balconies, to simultaneously create cooler and more intimate interior spaces.It is worth mentioning the attention with which the entrance doors are made, of beautiful proportions and details (handles), as well as at the back of the building the launch of stairs to access terraces, with elegant and modern design where lightness is generated by the "loose" elements (steps) of reinforced concrete.Again we are faced with a sample that is in a bad state of conservation, losing with it some of the natural impact and beauty that this project naturally holds. Photos from the exhibition "Modernismo em Tavira": copyright @ANAFA
Building Galhardo II
Townhouses, with commercial space on the ground floor. Rua Miguel Bombarda 118-120Building Galhardo II - R. Dr. Miguel Bombarda 118 - is an other project from the architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016), dated of the year of 1956; here, once again, he returns to demonstrate the principles of a modern and refined architecture, in which the facade is animated, especially on the first floor, in a rhythmic symphony of rectangular elements shaped by various materials and with different functions: door and window line up and interconnect with wall panels and shade protections, rails and ventilation slides.Once again, the architect uses a glass tile tablet of various shades so that, in a simple and cheap way, a wall panel can mark the main entrance of the building.One notes, with pity, the state of abandonment present above all of the façade, and specially at the level of the ground floor, which lends an air of sloppy abandon that neither the building nor its author deserve. Photos from the exhibition "Modernismo em Tavira": copyright @ANAFA
House for Joaquim Viegas dos Praceres
It took architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016) three years to grant the permit for this House for Joaquim Viegas dos Praceres (1961) at the Rua Dos Mouros 52. The reason for this delay has to do with the requirements set by the Directorate-General for Fine Arts when granting replacements.The proximity of the plot to a historic city wall led to the intervention of this national government. For example, they demand that the colors only be applied in light shades on the facades, with the exception of the marble, and they prohibit the use of (flat) roof tiles It seems that the General Management was very alert to the behavior of MGdC and the contemporary using of the materials proposed by this "innovator".Especially with the projects and works of MGdC in Tavira, there were often the necessary discussions with the authorities because of the "modern" proposals of the architect. His proposals sometimes had to be "wrapped" in order to build them. So much so that they are sometimes almost unrecognizable as MGdC's work.
Antiguo Convento de Nossa Senhora da Graça
One of the first buildings to evidence the transition from the Renaissance to “plain style” architecture was this old convent for Augustine monks, - now Pousada do Convento da Graça - which began to be built in 1569 on the site of Tavira’s old Jewish quarter.The affirmation of the new and austere taste in architecture is very clear in the singular bareness of the old church’s main façade, where the portico is devoid of any and all embellishment.There is a stark contrast between it and the rest of the convent’s façade, corresponding to the old dormitory, which features more dynamic decorative forms, in keeping with the newer eighteenth-century Baroque taste. The inner cloister is formed by arches supported by Tuscan columns resting on pedestals, clearly reflecting the classic austerity that took over the building during its construction.The design of the renovatin to convert the monastery into a Pousada (opened in 2006) is done by Architect João Sousa Campos. The interior decoration is done by architect Cristina Sousa Uva, who was inspired by the connection between the Algarve and Morocco.The Pousada has 36 rooms, including 3 superior rooms, 5 suites and 1 special suite. The suites have a terrace and sometimes a private garden.
House Carrilho da Graça
The holiday home (in red) of Carrilho da Graça, - Rua Dom Paio Peres Correia 14 - the famous architect from Lisbon, who is responsible for the design of Tavira's Biblioteca Municipal Álvaro de Campos. He is also known for his many high-profile projects abroad such as the MAMAC Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice (France). The recent Lisbon Cruise Terminal & The “Knowledge of the Seas Pavilio” - Expo ’98 - Lisbon.
House ALM
House ALM (2014) from Estudio ODS Arquitectos at the Rua da Liberdade 89 is a project In the urban context of Tavira's inner city. A renovation on a narrow plot with peculiar limits that holds an old house with two floors and a roof attic. Over time the plot has changed its limits and new constructions whas blocking the natural light and ventilation. The house is located between two streets; the main access is made in the north side and a secondary access is made by the south throw a especially narrow corridor.The depth of the plot suggest us a courtyard somewhere in the middle that allows natural light and ventilation to come inside the house. The courtyard works as the new center of the house in which an exterior three level promenade is initiated.The exterior stair works has a connection element of the three levels promenade; starting in the ground floor courtyard which offers light and ventilation to the living room and the kitchen; following to the next level terrace to a raised water tank; the last level terrace offers a unique cityscape view of Tavira and a roof attic.The materials looks for the simplicity found in Algarve's vernacular architecture; on the ground floor hydraulic mosaics; the first floor solid wood for private areas. Grey polished concrete covers all the outside areas. A red door spots the house in both elevations. Copyright Estudio ODS & Photographer Ricardo Santos. Photos from site: https://www.archdaily.com/786275/house-alm-estudio-ods
Casa Luísa Varela
Casa Luísa Varela - Rua da Liberdade 75 - is one of the "50 Modernst houses/apartments with a shop in the Rua da Liberdade designed by architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016) in 1955. On a narrow pentagonal plot of 72 m2, with a chapel on the right and an alley on the left, you find this building, commissioned by Luisa da Conceição Valera. It is only 5.30 m. width at the front and is 16.50 m long, with its facade to Rua da Liberdade.It contains a shop on the ground floor (showcase, building, warehouse and toilet) and on the top floor a house with two bedrooms located at the back side of the plot. It also has two patios to let in natural light into the rooms. And it has a kitchen, bathroom and dining room in the front. The living room continues outside through the balcony that balances above the sloping street and occupies a strip of it. There is also a corridor and a vestibule leading to an innovative staircase in which the steps are slightly twisted to the surrounding walls.This was the first house on Rua da Liberdade to abandon the usual sloping tiled roof and optioned for a flat roof with a terrace. Although the house is inhabited and in acceptable condition, the front has recently been altered and redecorated to the dis-taste of the day. For example, the subtle decorations has now been covered and the original ironwork has been replaced by welded metal profiles and filled in with rough and pronounced woodwork.
Casa Martins Lázaro
This project - Rua da Liberdade 30 - was designed in 1959 by architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016) for Fernando Martins Lázaro: it consisted of the construction of two houses with two bedrooms and a commercial building on the ground floor. Located on the busiest street in Tavira descending to the river Gilão against the remains of the fortified city.The houses have two bedrooms on the facade, so that the kitchen is lowered and the living room is placed in an intermediate position. To get daylight into the rooms, he used two rectangular patios, which are interrupted at the first floor. Only the bathroom of the bedrooms has no windows.The stairwell, which has a first part with radial steps, goes up to the terrace, together with a ventilation duct that opens prismatically to the roof. From there you can see the stone walls and tower of the medieval fortress, which has now been converted into a botanical garden.The eaves are classic: classic for the architect's work. A kind of subdued baroque spirit can be seen here: the vitality of light and shadow, the alternation of massive and open. The superimposed galleries try to hide their symmetry through the nonchalant placement of the wooden bars, in fixed places and painted green.The railing of turned, ceramic and traditional balusters flanks the lightweight metal parapet on the right. The dividing facade is perfectly integrated into the complex, stunning and merging with the facades on each side in the Rua da Libertdade.
Transport Coordinating Center
Transport Coordinating Center (next to the river, by architect José Lamas and Carlos Duarte, in an assumed Post-Modern design, from 1985-86. José Lamas was also the architect of the renovation of Palácio da Galeria (Centro Cultural de Tavira in 2000) and was the author of the Guia do Construtor no Centro Histórico de Tavira. A guide with regulations and advice for renovating projects in the historical centre of Tavira.
Housing Project - 11 Homes
Housing project by Can-Ran Arquitecture from Lisbon with 11 homes - Rua dos limpinhos / Rua do Santana - in Tavira (2011)The project occupies a prominent place in the city, both for its location on a census and for its proximity to the Santa Ana Church and the viewpoint of Alto de Santana. The terrain has a trapezoidal shape. This relationship with the environment is reinforced by the white color, the building mass and the layout of the facades,The appearance is determined in a modular sequence by the rhythm of the spans, volumes: full and empty and the selection of materials used: limestone from the region and tiles from St. Catarina. All houses have terraces on the roof, reinforcing the tradition of the Algarve roof terrace.The houses always have 3 levels, connected by internal and external stairs.Level 1 - Ground floor, private area: rooms with access to the patio and toilet facilitiesLevel 2 - Floor 1, social area: living room and kitchenLevel 3 - Roof terrace and hipped roof Copyright Can_Ran Archtects. Photographs from site: http://can-ran.com/work#/casas-de-tavira/
House Marcos Gil
House Marcos Gil, - Tv. da Asseca 1 - TaviraThe project designed by architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016) does not really have much architectural appeal and is the last in the series. It was designed in 1966 and located on the corner of Rua Borda d'Água da Asseca with an unnamed alley. It has unbalanced proportions and looks a bit strange, especially the solution on the ground floor.In the urban planning file you can read about the problems the architect had to deal with with the local and regional authorities (sometimes the projects had to be notified in Faro and sometimes in Lisbon) to obtain permission for "risky projects" that were not “ standard ". In this case, the authorities rejected the facade designs and mandated a tiled roof - unusual in MGdaCosta projects - which meant that the works were not approved until 1970, after three years of applying for the permit. What was eventually built - as we often see - is also different from the submitted and approved drawings.
Town apartments Rua Álvares Botelho
Town apartments. Rua Álvares BotelhoThis group of apartments - Rua de Álvares Botelho 10 - in line presents the singularity of being the only equipment of this nature at this time in Tavira. Built in a honeycomb structure, it houses a set of 6 apartments divided into 3 blocks with own entrance each. In these, the wall cloths are positioned with inclinations between themselves and the protruded balconies, which cause games of light and rhythms, creating a volumetry of great dynamics in the facade, increased by the empty spaces. This positioning also allows the best use of the entrance of light and an outer space of intimacy in relation to the neighbours.Also of interest are the primitive window and door shutters, and the tile coverings of the exterior entrance areas (now classified as "dubious", but still contemporary), as well as the metal railing and supports of balcony, of simple but elegant design. We are facing a building which is generally well-preserved and to which some of the contemporary restorations give a certain charm, such as the various interpretations of the same colour, by the different tenants, who animate today the mural surfaces of each set.But here we can also see the alteration of some elements that are being replaced, as for example the shutters, which give way to the current and impersonal profiles of PVC. Photos from the exhibition "Modernismo em Tavira": copyright @ANAFA
Cine-teatro António Pinheiro
Cine-teatro António Pinheiro (Old & New) Rua D. Marcelino FrancoThe "Old" Theatre was finally built in 1968 and broken down in 2018. this cine-theatre began as a project (see drawing front) by the architect Manuel Gomes da Costa(1921-2016), who already in 1955 completes and signs the integral project of renovation of the primitive and anachronistic theatre then existing, adapting it now also for cinema.Once again MGdC presents a bold modernist project, which will have been inspired by the remodelling and adaptation to cinema of the before Batalha Theatre in Porto, the city of "his" modernist school. In both projects (which separate in about 8 years) the force of the imagery that animates the whole facade, produces on the outside an invitation and appeal to all this new, after all Modern, cinematic dynamics. But the project never landed.....It was only in 1966 that another renovation project was made, and approved in 1968. At the beginning of construction in that year, new alterations were also made to the approved project, and finally the building took its current configuration till it was broken down...In 2018, the construction started on a totaly new designed multifunctional theater for various cultural activities (dance, theatre, film and music), under the old name: "Cineteatro António Pinheiro" with a seating capacity of almost 600 seats. The new design (see photo of the model) with a 14 m. high tower caused quite a stir among the inhabitants of Tavira..... The new building is now finished and it's up to you to make a judgment about new and old. Although of course you have to visit a performance in the new theatre to really experience it .... but that dark tower of 14 m ? Photos from the exhibition "Modernismo em Tavira": copyright @ANAFA
House Gonçalves
Detached house, with commercial space on the ground floor Rua 1o de Maio, Tavira.This is undoubtedly one of the first and most charismatic buildings of "Modern Architecture" in the city of Tavira. The project is designed by architect Manuel Gomes da Costa (1921-2016) and was built in 1957.In it one can see some of the elements that define this style and also the particular design of this great architect: the geometrized composition of the facades, divided and subdivided according to the rules of composition of the gold number or golden ratio, where the vertical and horizontal elements interconnect and dialogue, in an entirely classical way; a volume superbly proportioned and of sober elegance, which gives to this building all the characteristics of a "head of series".In the detailed photos we can glimpse some of the characteristic details of the design work of this great architect; among them the beautiful side panel of tile tablet, very peculiarly and using contrasting colours, between green grey, vermilion and white ivory, now unfortunately hidden by a later painting with white plastic paint ... which is fortunately easily removable! Photos from the exhibition "Modernismo em Tavira": copyright @ANAFA
House Horta das Neves
Detached house. Rua Dr. Parreira, Tavira.Another emblematic example of a project - Rua Doutor Parreira 40 Tavira - from the architect Manuel Gomes da Costa(1921-2016). Dating from 1961, once again all the emblematic characteristics of the Modern style are present, as its appeal to the use of the most modern building materials such as reinforced concrete, glass and metal profiles, to which are added some of the traditional elements and materials of this region.This is evident and emphasized here in the use of Brecha de Tavira, a limestone of great plastic and chromatic beauty used both in the stonework framing of the building and also in door and window frames, along with the tile tablet and the wooden wickerwork windows (modern versions of the traditional “reixa”...).Another element of great plastic interest is the inverted flap above the door, which is repeated in other examples in the city and surroundings and which thus becomes one of the emblematic elements of the architectural programmes of MGdC. Once again, attention must be paid to the composition and relationship between the various rectangular elements of the façade, or in the design of small elements, such as panelling, wood or hollow brick.
Art Nouveau House
This Art Nouveau house - 1930 Builder / Architect: Captain José Inácio da Conceição - at the Rua 1* de Maio 15 is in two floors and a main facade in Urban Style, with Art Nouveau decorative elements and new construction techniques (such as concrete and steel), with a noble, traditional structure, characteristic of the type of palatial construction in urban environment of the 18th and 19th century. Examples of this are the balustrades, bay windows, parapet. The interior, on the other hand, is rather sober and only enlivened by a few decorative elements, especially at the level of the windows. The dynamism of the outer facade is obtained by the shapes and materials used. It is one of the most original houses in Tavira.
