RIBA East Travel Bursary Porto

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Pamela Franklin
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1 FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Department of the Built Environment RIBA East Travel Bursary 2009 Porto Name: Theonymfi Kypriotaki Degree: BSc (Hons) Architecture Course Leader: Gil Lewis Academic Year: Date of visit: 28/5/2009 to 2/6/2009

Theonymfi Kypriotaki Degree: BSc (Hons) Architecture Course

2 Abstract Porto is built on the banks of the River Douro and as the name suggests, it is a port, and a capital of the Porto district in northwest Portugal. Evidence of its history is easily seen today, but the main attraction is the remarkable, and fascinating, old town, south of the Praca de Liberdade, designated by Unesco World Heritage Site in A particular attraction is the city s architecture, dating from medieval times to cutting-edge modern. Porto is a lively place with several museums, a university, major performance venues and a new concert hall and opera house. The central part of the city is home to around 300,000 people, with many more in the sprawling suburbs. One of those catch-phrases that has travelled from place to place and from generation to generation says: While Coimbra sings, Braga prays and Lisboa has fun, Oporto works. This helps us get an idea of the role that ancient Portus played in the creation and later development of the nation. 2

A particular attraction is the city s architecture, dating from medieval times to cutting-edge modern.

3 Table of contents: 1.0 Introduction Dragon Stadium Airport Fransisco Sa Carneiro Pavilion Rosa Mota Reflection 9 3

4 1.0 Introduction I visited Porto on 28 th of May 2009 for 5 days. I chose to visit this city because of the architectural highlights within the city, culture and to enjoy its atmosphere. My initial reason for visiting this city was because I have been fascinated by the Gothic and Romanesque architecture. Porto includes examples of such architecture, which I found absolutely stunning. The Porto Cathedral, together with the small Romanesque Church of Cedofeita, the gothic Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis), the remnants of the city walls and a few 15th-century houses are these places that triggered my interest to visit it and explore the nature which speaks through sight touch and smell. The baroque style is also well represented in the city in the elaborate gilt work interior decoration of the churches of St. Francis and St. Claire (Santa Clara), the churches of Mercy and of the Clerics, the Episcopal Palace of Porto, and others. The neoclassicism and romanticism of the 19th and 20th centuries add interesting monuments to the landscape of the city, like the magnificent Stock Exchange Palace, the Hospital of Saint Anthony, the Municipality, the buildings in the Liberdade Square and the Avenida dos Aliados, the tile-adorned São Bento Train Station and the gardens of the Crystal Palace (Palácio de Cristal). Porto is built on the banks of the River Douro and as the name suggests, it is a port, and a capital of the Porto district in northwest Portugal. Evidence of its history is easily seen today, but the main attraction is the remarkable, and fascinating, old town, south of the Praca de Liberdade, designated by Unesco World Heritage Site in A particular attraction is the city s architecture, dating from medieval times to cutting-edge modern. Porto is a lively place with several museums, a university, major performance venues and a new concert hall and opera house. Art is everywhere in Porto, this being one of the major touristic offerings of the city, that is why I chose to talk about specific buildings and some constructions that impressed me and took my breath away. I chose Stadium do Dragao, Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, and Pavilion Rosa Mota as my favourite buildings and constructions because each one stands out their own character and awakened a series of ideas in my mind as a student of architecture. All these buildings contain a combination of sheer scale and careful detail which make them more admirable to my eyes. 4

The Porto Cathedral, together with the small Romanesque Church of Cedofeita, the gothic Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis), the remnants of the city walls and a few 15th-century houses

5 2.0 Dragon Stadium It was founded in 1893 by António Nicolau de Almeida and was built in 2003 as a venue for EURO Estádio do Dragão (Dragon Stadium) in Porto, Portugal, is characterized by an elegant frame of 21,000 meters squared of azulejos, which are the typical white and sky-blue Portuguese tiles. The first azulejos can be found at the entrance and looks like a big dragon that gives name to the stadium. The Dragon Stadium has a seating capacity of 50,106 which is divided between two levels of reinforced concrete tiers. Only the lower one is continuous along the perimeter of the playing field's rectangle. The upper tier appears to gravitate on the lower one due to a sense of light that is created by a curved and streamlined profile towards their ends. 5

The first azulejos can be found at the entrance and looks like a big dragon that gives name to the stadium.

6 A white trellis complements the steel roof's structure and characterizes the shape of the upper tiers. Translucent and polycarbonate panels make up the remainder of the roof. The roof over the stand behind the goal connects with the roofs of the main tribunes. It is made of the same materials as the other roofs, and the structure is one of great transparency which is achieved by the choice of space where the upper tiers are excluded. This opens the stadium to its natural environment which provides an excellent source of light. The roof is extended to cover the entire cylindrical space around the stadium and it prevents rain from falling on the four large cement pillars that rise from the ground and act as anchors to hold the white trellis. The modern and highly functional project by architect Manuel Salgado has been a catalyst for the surrounding areas as the stadium sits in the centre of this important area. It can host numerous events, sports and concerts, both inside the stadium and at the large square in front of the main entrance. I was really impressed by this football club. Especially, when I saw the dragon symbol. I absolutely loved it. But what is strange about this football club is its size. Porto won the Champions League twice (one still as the ECC) and the UEFA Cup once. One would expect to be bigger than that. Despite its size, Porto team is doing well. While I was there, FC Porto's team captain Argentinian Lucho Gonzales held the trophy after their 1-0 victory over Pacos de Ferreira on their Portugal Cup final at Jamor Stadium, outskirts of Lisbon, on May 31,

It is made of the same materials as the other roofs, and the structure is one of great transparency which is achieved by the choice of space where the upper tiers are excluded.

7 3.0 Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport The biggest airport in the north of Portugal, Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport can be found around 11 km / 7 miles to the north of the town of Porto (Oporto). The redevelopment of the airport was designed by one of Portugal's main architects and design build consultants, ICQ. The ground-breaking design involving five central skylights in the centre of the main terminal roof was constructed by the engineers WS Atkins. In my opinion, it was quite refreshing to land in such an airport. It was not like the typical square type stereotype of airports but it was rather interesting. 7

The ground-breaking design involving five central skylights in the centre of the main terminal roof was constructed by the engineers WS Atkins.

8 4.0 Pavilion Rosa Mota Pavilhão Rosa Mota is an arena in Porto. It is primarily used for basketball. Pavilhão Rosa Mota opened in 1954 and holds 5,400 people. During May, there is a children s week. A week of theatre shows and events aimed at children. Pavilion Rosa Mota acts as an exhibition center while its gardens host the children s shows and events. While I was there, it was full of children. The unique about this building is that the round shape it has, works well. Not a lot of buildings have that characteristic. Plus, it has a nice decoration with glass round symbols on top of its roof which give it the appearance of a sunflower. The environment around it hugs this building and it makes it more even appealing to approach. Environment is embraced as it should be in every building made. 8

While I was there, it was full of children. The unique about this building is that the round shape it has, works well. Not a lot of buildings have that characteristic.

9 5.0 Reflection A reflection should contain in the personal opinion about my trip to Porto, a review and an evaluation of what I have achieved up by completing this trip. Undertaking this trip gave me a great opportunity to explore different styles of architecture all laid within a city by great architects of that time such as Nicolau Nasoni, Marques da Silva, John Whitehead (who was also consul of Great Britain) and engineers such as Theophile Seyrig, Gustave Eiffel and Edgar Cardoso. I really liked the golden reflections that were falling on each construction and floating on the waters of the Duero which resemble its many years of history. The whole overseas trip was an inspiring experience of my life; it enlightened and broadened my horizons to new ideas and concepts. I am glad I did undertake it. It gave me the opportunity to visit such wonderful buildings that are in a city full of vision and a continuous progress, and I explored the nature which speaks through sight touch. 9

Whitehead (who was also consul of Great Britain) and engineers such as Theophile Seyrig, Gustave Eiffel and Edgar Cardoso.

PORTO LISBOA + PORTO (2 DAYS)

PORTO LISBOA + PORTO (2 DAYS) PORTO (Full Day) Transfer from the Hotel to the railway station Oriente to catch the train Alfa Pendular (2 nd Class), departing at 10h09 and arriving in Oporto s railway station - Campanhã at 12h44. Free