Construction culture between tradition and modernity: Three works by Álvaro Siza

Between 1958 and 1966, Álvaro Siza designed three remarkable works in Leça da Palmeira: Boa Nova Tea House (1958-63), the swimming pool at Quinta da Conceição (1958-66) and the ocean swimming pool (1959-66; building completed in 1973). Even though these buildings were designed within a short space of time and were built in the same area, they reflect the evolution of the construction culture in Portugal. During the 1950s and 1960s, construction in Portugal evolved from predominant recourse to traditional technologies using pre-industrial materials (often taking the form of a hybrid combination with modern solutions) towards the gradual affirmation of modern construction features made possible by the advances in the construction industry (mainly reinforced concrete). This paper explores the evolution.