Exploring The University Of Porto's Faculty Of Architecture Through Álvaro Siza's Design, Captured By Fernando Guerra

The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto, designed by Álvaro Siza in Porto, is a masterful integration of educational spaces with their natural surroundings, completed between 1985 and 1996. This iconic institution, highlighted through Fernando Guerra’s comprehensive photography series, demonstrates Siza’s vision of a college as a small town, characterized by distinct volumes, strategic views, and integrated social spaces. The project is renowned in the global architectural landscape, contributing significantly to the reputation of the University, which consistently ranks among the top architecture schools worldwide. Notably, the Faculty has produced distinguished architects like Eduardo Souto de Moura (Pritzker 2011) and Fernando Távora, enhancing its prestige and influence in contemporary architecture.

Designed by Álvaro Siza, a former student, and constructed between 1985 and 1996, the faculty comprises ten distinct volumes, each with its own character yet unified by shared color schemes, opacity, and construction methods.

Exploring the University of Porto's Faculty of Architecture Through Álvaro Siza's Design, Captured by Fernando Guerra

The original program for the school included classrooms for 500 students, an auditorium, administrative offices, an exhibition hall, and a library. Siza chose to distribute these functions across separate buildings. The southern section, overlooking the Douro River, houses the classrooms and workshops. Siza’s design, known for expertly framing specific views, is particularly evident in the classroom volumes, which engage with Porto’s natural surroundings. These buildings stand out for their distinct openings and solar protections, which introduce differentiation and movement among the structures.

Four towers aign along the river, while on the opposite side, two laminated buildings connected by a semi-circle dominate the scene. At the center of the site, a large, irregular triangular courtyard echoes the shape of the first pavilion Siza designed for the campus—a U-shaped structure with slightly closed arms. The design plays extensively with right and oblique angles, especially in visual perspectives and proportions.

In the northern part of the campus, more opaque linier volumes accommodate the auditorium, exhibition hall, library, and administrative offices, positioned closer to the adjacent road.

Recognizing that much of the interaction and learning occurs outside traditional classrooms and libraries, Siza devoted careful attention to the in-between spaces, patios, and cafes. He envisioned the college as a small town, utilizing the site’s topography to create diverse social and intimate spaces. Walkways and ramps, resembling streets, connect different levels and classrooms, while the café and courtyard function as plazas and parks.