Adaptive reuse of vernacular built heritage: learnings from Alcino Cardoso House (1971–1991) by Álvaro Siza

The Alcino Cardoso House (first phase: 1971-1973; second phase: 1988-1991), located in northern Portugal, was one of the first interventions in pre-existing buildings undertaken by the Pritzker Prize-winner architect Álvaro Siza (1933) to receive national and international acclaim. The design consis...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Cunha Ferreira, Teresa, Ordóñez Castañón, David, Fantini, Eleanora, Frias Coutinho, Miguel, Trindade Cruz, Tiago
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/158270
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/158270
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-023-00301-6
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Adaptive reuse
Vernacular architecture
Built heritage
School of Porto
Architectural conservation
Álvaro Siza
Description
Summary:The Alcino Cardoso House (first phase: 1971-1973; second phase: 1988-1991), located in northern Portugal, was one of the first interventions in pre-existing buildings undertaken by the Pritzker Prize-winner architect Álvaro Siza (1933) to receive national and international acclaim. The design consisted of the conservation of vernacular farm buildings and their transformation into a holiday home and tourist accommodation. This intervention echoes the concerns of the critical revision of modern architecture in the Portuguese context (the so-called ‘third way’ as coined by Fernando Távora) marked by an innovative reinterpretation of tradition: modern principles such as spatial fluidity, curtain wall glass façade, architectural promenade are introduced while respecting the pre-existence landscape and character by integrating vernacular design principles and construction techniques. This early Álvaro Siza intervention in a rural context has become a reference case-study for the School of Porto architects and provides us with lessons on contemporary reuse of built heritage.