{"id":46399,"date":"2014-06-24T19:31:19","date_gmt":"2014-06-24T17:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.area-arch.it\/en\/pinto-sotto-mayor-bank\/"},"modified":"2017-10-02T18:23:16","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T16:23:16","slug":"pinto-sotto-mayor-bank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.area-arch.it\/en\/pinto-sotto-mayor-bank\/","title":{"rendered":"Pinto & Sotto Mayor Bank"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between 1969 and 1974 Siza was asked to design two projects for two different banks, finished in the same year. The first one was at Vila de Conde, 30 km north of Porto, the second at Oliveira de Azemeis, 70 km south of Porto. The two plans shared some of the same features: the internal spaces were defined by curved glazing, a large staircase leading to the upper floor (at Vila de Conde it\u2019s lit from above) and the extremely stylish workmanship possible with the use of marble. Both projects were influenced by Aalto\u2019s organic architecture, respectful of those traditions based on a type of modernity where tectonics are determined by the choice of materials and wisely balanced by the matching of geometry with free form.<\/p>\n

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photo by FG+SG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Oliveira de Azemeis branch shows the extent to which Siza was concerned with the idea of integrating buildings to the size and conditions of the existing site. This is why he matched the facades and the different heights of each volume with the existing ones.<\/p>\n

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photo by Hisao Suzuki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this way one can quickly and easily identify the urban scale of the whole. The dichotomy between what\u2019s internal and what\u2019s external is solved through a double fa\u00e7ade: one for the interior, the other for the exterior \u2013 a slightly unusual and yet brilliant way to accept such a contradiction and reach expressive unity that corresponds to the building\u2019s various functions. Firm, sculptured surfaces, either horizontal or curved, clearly show the plastic purpose of the internal spaces.
\nF.B.<\/p>\n