Tour Overview
A walking Tour in Portimão with (Modernist) Architecture, Art & More
The modernist architecture part in Portimão consists largely of the architecture of António Vicente de Castro. He was born in Lisbon on October 17, 1920 and died on November 26, 2002, also in Lisbon. He started his academic career in Lisbon, but soon moved to the School of Visual Arts in Porto, where he completed his studies in 1955. In 1956 he moves back to the Algarve, having spent much of his youth in Lagos. He opens his architectural firm in Portimão, where he begins his professional career and where he will realize approximately 120 projects.
He does research and worked with themes such as collective and single-family homes, facilities, services and urban planning. Between 1975 and 1976 he worked for the Municipality of Portimão, where he participates in urban planning and urban renewal projects. In his projects, especially the integration with their environment is visible: in the green spaces and the orientation to the sun. They are buildings with simple geometric shapes as usual in modernism and built of concrete, steel and glass.
He was - together with the architects Manuel Gomes da Costa and Manuel Laginha - one of the three pioneers who introduced "Modernism" in the Algarve. They were all trained in Porto by professor Carlos Ramos and brought the post-war “Modern Architecture of the International Movement” to the Algarve.
We can associate Vicente de Castro with Portimão, Gomes da Costa with Faro and Laginha with Loulé.
Manuel Laginha, one of the most active and best-known Algarve architects of his generation, is known for several projects, mostly published in the magazine "Arquitectura". Unfortunately, many of his projects have been destroyed or damaged. But with the help of this map, some projects in Loulé by Manuel Laginha can still be admired.
Laginha created a "school" of modern urban architecture in Loulé, soon followed by designers and engineers, who repeated and reinvented modern themes using reinforced concrete. Sometimes in an interesting and creative way with balconies, pergolas, ceramic grilles and polychrome tile coverings. Perhaps the most important follower is João Campos, a designer with a large number of signature works in provocative modernism.
In addition to "Modernist" projects by Laginha and contemporaries in Loulé, we pay some attention to the Monument of Eng. Duarte Pacheco who - honored in his hometown of Loulé - was Minister of Public Works & Communication and had a great influence by setting up important infrastructural works and the organization of the Portuguese World Exhibition in 1940.
Made by www.architouralgarve.com with some photos of John (Cyclingshepherd)
Other Tours from ArchiTourAlgarve on the STQRY App:
* Faro - Pires & Brito Architecture Walking Tour
* Faro - Architectural walking Tour Ilha / Praia de Faro
* Olhão - Cubist Architecture Walking Tour
* Olhão - Architecture Walking Tour: Monuments, Modernism & More
* Tavira - Modernist & More Architecture Walking Tour
* Fuseta - Architecture Walking Tour
* Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) - Modernist & More Architecture Walking Tour
* Huelva (Spain) - Architecture Walking Tour
