03 of July of 2024
MONASTERY OF LEÇA DO BALIO AND OPEN SCULPTURE BY ÁLVARO SIZA: THE MOST ANTICIPATED PREMIERES AT OPEN HOUSE PORTO 2024
The 9th edition of Open House Porto will take place on July 6th and 7th, featuring a major new highlight. At a unique location, the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation, visitors can explore the Open Sculpture by the acclaimed architect Álvaro Siza and the Monastery of Leça do Balio, also redeveloped by the Pritzker Prize winner. These two new cultural spaces are now part of the promotional route of the northern region.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the April 25th Revolution, Open House Portojoins the festivities and organizes its 9th edition under the theme "50 Years of Building Freedom." Organized and produced by Casa da Arquitectura, the event will be held over the weekend of July 6th and 7th, offering visits to 65 locations across Porto, Matosinhos, Maia, and Vila Nova de Gaia.
The 2024 Open House Porto edition presents a significant novelty: a visit to the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation, where Álvaro Siza's Open Sculpture is located, along with the renovated Monastery of Leça do Balio, also by the renowned Portuguese architect.
The architectural ensemble, composed of the Church of the Monastery and these two works, forms a unique architectural set characterized by monumental style and grand scale. Seen in profile, the Monastery complex impresses with its two towers flanking the church's main façade, followed by the Gothic and Romanesque elements of the Monastery of Leça do Balio.
This visual path leads us to the Open Sculpture by Álvaro Siza. Built in white concrete with clean, straight lines, this work occupies an area of 400 m², demonstrating a perfect coexistence between Álvaro Siza's contemporary style and historical richness.
Despite being recent, the Open Sculpture is already an iconic work. Meticulously designed to highlight the role of the Monastery of Leça do Balio as a historical waypoint for pilgrims on the Portuguese Way to Santiago, the sculpture offers a profound introspective experience. With a dynamic play of light and form, the work provides a unique and contemplative experience.
In the exterior courtyard of the building, there is "Viandante," another poignant sculpture, standing 1.90 meters tall, made of marble, serving as a reminder of the space's vocation for travel and exploration.
Álvaro Siza is also responsible for the magnificent renovation of the Monastery of Leça do Balio, a national monument since 1910, now the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation. The Portuguese architect, Pritzker Prize winner in 1992, believes there is no confrontation between the past, present, and future but rather a complementarity.
"It's a delicate project. The past, which indicates the project, is not simple, it is not linear. Making a contemporary building from a historical one is a disaster for many people. That generalization must be overcome. Building next to quality buildings helps. The example is there." - Architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
We believe we have all the conditions to be the most visited site at Open House Porto 2024. We invite everyone to explore this unique space and discover what makes it so special!
Program for July 6th, Saturday:
17:00: Reading of excerpts from "Luz Inclinada" by Professor Pedro Eiras, author of the book published by the Livraria Lello Foundation, which encapsulates the feelings that might overwhelm visitors to Álvaro Siza's work.
17:15: Ballet "The Path" by the Douro Ballet Company, a production commissioned by the Livraria Lello Foundation.
17:30: Guided tour of the Open Sculpture by architect António Choupina, followed by a visit to the Monastery of Leça do Balio.
On Saturday and Sunday, guided tours are scheduled between 14:00 and 16:30, and commented visits at 17:00.
Registrations can be made here. On the day of the event, additional entries will be available, subject to confirmation on-site.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the April 25th Revolution, Open House Portojoins the festivities and organizes its 9th edition under the theme "50 Years of Building Freedom." Organized and produced by Casa da Arquitectura, the event will be held over the weekend of July 6th and 7th, offering visits to 65 locations across Porto, Matosinhos, Maia, and Vila Nova de Gaia.
The 2024 Open House Porto edition presents a significant novelty: a visit to the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation, where Álvaro Siza's Open Sculpture is located, along with the renovated Monastery of Leça do Balio, also by the renowned Portuguese architect.
The architectural ensemble, composed of the Church of the Monastery and these two works, forms a unique architectural set characterized by monumental style and grand scale. Seen in profile, the Monastery complex impresses with its two towers flanking the church's main façade, followed by the Gothic and Romanesque elements of the Monastery of Leça do Balio.
This visual path leads us to the Open Sculpture by Álvaro Siza. Built in white concrete with clean, straight lines, this work occupies an area of 400 m², demonstrating a perfect coexistence between Álvaro Siza's contemporary style and historical richness.
Despite being recent, the Open Sculpture is already an iconic work. Meticulously designed to highlight the role of the Monastery of Leça do Balio as a historical waypoint for pilgrims on the Portuguese Way to Santiago, the sculpture offers a profound introspective experience. With a dynamic play of light and form, the work provides a unique and contemplative experience.
In the exterior courtyard of the building, there is "Viandante," another poignant sculpture, standing 1.90 meters tall, made of marble, serving as a reminder of the space's vocation for travel and exploration.
Álvaro Siza is also responsible for the magnificent renovation of the Monastery of Leça do Balio, a national monument since 1910, now the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation. The Portuguese architect, Pritzker Prize winner in 1992, believes there is no confrontation between the past, present, and future but rather a complementarity.
"It's a delicate project. The past, which indicates the project, is not simple, it is not linear. Making a contemporary building from a historical one is a disaster for many people. That generalization must be overcome. Building next to quality buildings helps. The example is there." - Architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
We believe we have all the conditions to be the most visited site at Open House Porto 2024. We invite everyone to explore this unique space and discover what makes it so special!
Program for July 6th, Saturday:
17:00: Reading of excerpts from "Luz Inclinada" by Professor Pedro Eiras, author of the book published by the Livraria Lello Foundation, which encapsulates the feelings that might overwhelm visitors to Álvaro Siza's work.
17:15: Ballet "The Path" by the Douro Ballet Company, a production commissioned by the Livraria Lello Foundation.
17:30: Guided tour of the Open Sculpture by architect António Choupina, followed by a visit to the Monastery of Leça do Balio.
On Saturday and Sunday, guided tours are scheduled between 14:00 and 16:30, and commented visits at 17:00.
Registrations can be made here. On the day of the event, additional entries will be available, subject to confirmation on-site.