Open House Porto

CURATORIAL TEXT

This will be OPEN HOUSE PORTO’s third year in a row, this time exclusively organized by Casa da Arquitectura. Two days devoted to architecture with visits open to everyone, in three cities – Porto, Matosinhos and Gaia.

To see the city and its guts, what is outside and what is inside its walls is what OPEN HOUSE proposes, and it has been, in its previous editions, a surprising and memorable experience that we mean to give continuity to.

We propose for this year’s edition to gather a group of eclectic works – both concerning the time it was built and its uses –, in the same measure of the urban diversity and its more recent mutation. This mixture, and the complexity that rises from this fact, show us what changes cities into living and inclusive bodies. Cities started to develop from occasional initiatives of different scales, suggesting routes, atmospheres and experiences in interstitial spaces. There is, therefore, a close relationship between all the chosen examples that makes us understand the influence of these interventions in the streets, neighbourhoods, blocks, and parishes. This becomes more pertinent, as pressure from tourism and real estate interest rises in historical centres, and it becomes imperative to offer new perspectives on a certain region and the necessity to look for change in new places.

Solidifying the legacy of previous editions, we will see some comebacks, those that in architectural terms are landmarks, true contemporary monuments always good to revisit, like Álvaro Siza’s first works in Matosinhos or Casa da Música in Porto. We also added historical references of extraordinary beauty like the Serra do Pilar Monastery or the Grilos Church. We will see some well-known works, that maybe we have never managed to visit, like Conde Ferreira Hospital, Prado do Repouso Cemetery, the deactivated railroad tunnel between S.Bento and Campanhã or the Monte da Virgem Retransmissions Tower. Some new structures complete this list, giving a modern and sophisticated feel to areas where the Porto Metro is, the I3S, or the recuperation of Real Vinícola to house the Casa da Arquitectura. On the way, in Gaia, Matosinhos and Porto, from the downtown commercial buildings to islands brought back to life, new ways of inhabiting reveal themselves in unexpected houses in unlikely places.

With open doors and with guided tours by specialists, by the authors themselves and by the team of volunteers, to stroll from building to building, during one weekend, OPEN HOUSE will make a real party out of these three cities.

Paula Santos e Ivo Poças Martins

Biographies

Paula Santos – Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of University of Porto (FAUP). Teacher at Lusíada University from 1997 to 2006. Invited teacher at the Architecture Department at FCT – University of Coimbra, from 2008 to 2013. Currently taking a PhD at Colégio das Artes, University of Coimbra. Member of CDN, Architecture Association from 2007 to 2010. Member of CDR ar Architecture Association from 2010 to 2013. Founder and partner of the company Sátira design from 1996 to 2000. In 1998, starts her own office and company paula santos I arquitectura lda, in Porto, having obtained the first prize in several Public Procurements and by invitation. Has several built and published works and has participated in exhibitions, conferences and workshops national and internationally. Granted the title of Grand Official Order of Merit by President Dr. Jorge Sampaio.

Ivo Poças Martins – Architect and researcher by Faculty of Architecture of University of Porto. Has been making projects in architecture since 2003 in partnership with Matilde Seabra. Founder and co-editor of fanzine Friendly Fire. He was, from 2012 and 2015, member of the editorial team of Jornal dos Arquitectos. As assistant curator he was a part of the team for the 4th edition of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale.

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THE EVENT

In this 3rd edition of Open House Porto sixty spaces will have their doors open on the weekend of 1st and 2nd of July of 2017.

Curators Paula Santos and Ivo Poças Martins are responsible for the selection of spaces, that “gather a group of eclectic works – both concerning the time it was built and its uses –, in the same measure of the urban diversity and its more recent mutation. This mixture, and the complexity that rises from this fact, show us what changes cities into living and inclusive bodies. Cities started to develop from occasional initiatives of different scales, suggesting routes, atmospheres and experiences in interstitial spaces”.

The visitors will have access to a wide program of visits, which will give them the opportunity to see and to know spaces that are not always accessible.

Besides the itinerary, and as an added extra, there are also two programs of parallel events that enable other ways to see and enjoy the spaces: the Kaleidoscope and Plus program.

The third edition of OPEN HOUSE PORTO is organised and produced exclusively by Casa da Arquitectura in partnership with the Porto Municipality, as a Strategic Partner, and the Municipalities of Gaia and Matosinhos as event partners.

Many other partners are connected to this event, without whom it would be impossible to offer this program of free guided tours to the public.

HOW IT WORKS

During the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of July everyone is invited to get to know totally free of charge, a program with diverse spaces in their typology and from different times. Each participant can create his own itinerary to their liking, exploring the architecture and the city through new eyes.

Visit Formats

Open Visit — visit the space without being accompanied, within the opening hours

Regular Visit — visit the space with the commentary of our Open House Porto team of volunteers

Tour — visit the space accompanied by the authors of the project or by an invited specialist.

Ways of Accessing the Visits

1. The access to most locations will REQUIRE NO BOOKING, ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS

2. Only the spaces number nºs 4, 10, 11, 18, 38, 42, 45, 51, 52, 55 e 60 require (total or partial) PRE-BOOKING/RESERVATION for their visits. Booking will be available from June 28th, at 2pm, on this website. To make a reservation, you should access the menu “Places”, Select the space you want and look for the item “Reservations”.

CALEIDOSCÓPIO PROGRAM

Group of free activities produced in partnership with CASA DA ARQUITECTURA during Open House Porto, occurring in some of the spaces of the itinerary and that are intended to all types of audiences. It is the result of wanting to show other perspectives in the exploring and occupying spaces.

Detailed information on all activities of the Kaleidoscope Program, spaces where it takes place and timetables, available for consultation HERE.

PLUS PROGRAM

Parallel program of free activities promoted by other entities not related to CASA DA ARQUITECTURA, whose profile and site fit into the Open House Porto spirit. Detailed information on all activities of the Plus Program, spaces where it takes place and timetables, available for consultation HERE

OTHER INFO

1. In each space, a team of volunteers will offer an Open House Porto guide and map. Subject to availability.

2. The number of people per visit in each space is merely indicative. Due to high demand, and the conditions of certain spaces, the organisation cannot be responsible for any possible noncompliance.

3 There will be a free Open House Porto bus available for the visitors of the Vila Nova de Gaia’s spaces. This bus will make a circular route between every designated spot of the V. N. Gaia itinerary.

Architecture will have its doors open: so come in and be a part of this experience!