Alvaro Siza Acceptance speech 1

Alvaro Siza Vieira Acceptance Speech - Part 1 - RIBA's 2009 Royal Gold Medallist

President, distinguished guests, greetings to all, I was born as an architect in a time of glorious handicrafts work in quiet continuity of tradition even if it was turning into a new language. I learned much in direct contact with the workers. The first time I felt the changes in process of which I had indirect knowledge was when informed, while working in berlin that I should not discuss building matters except with the building director. Later on, working in Holland where to build men to put together pre-fabricated elements, I developed a project walking along streets and I enjoyed it. “I want that brick, I want that type of window that stone that colour and so on” like making an object roofing sculpture since when and are constantly changing. More than 50 years ago I could see for first time one of my project being built. Since then I have had different opportunities in Portugal and since the 80’s in other countries. Most projects were not of big dimension but they interested me for their program, their context or the experience they could bring. I could get to know people and terms and I had direct contact with different cultures. I was trying to proposing that it does not look exotic even when I feel that there is another expectation. Something that looks as if it had always been there shaping the surrounding it even when the case is the opposite. Not more than a part of some parts have been pictured or something emerging from it according to the nature of its role in the town have they been my ambition as an architect. As detail of a town as detail of a building should appear as inevitable. I am speaking of project in a consolidated town sometimes an uptown. Projecting a new town can be to create conditions for a similar process of evolution through centuries and they were lasting capacity for transformation and permanence of identity and moving identity. The influence of direct contact with different cultures is a constant in Portuguese history and the history of its architecture mainly since 15^th century. The kind of heritage in process for Portuguese architects and for the English as well I would say, that has always acted on revolution of architecture perhaps as much as technological advances.