Faro is the hotbed of the South Modern Architecture movement leaded by Architect Manuel Gomes da Costa following the path of Oscar Niemeyer, Le Corbusier & Franck Lloyd Wright. The city counts about 500 buildings including "The Modernist."
"THE MODERNIST" is a Portuguese Modern Architecture masterpiece built in the early 70s by architect Joel Santana. The use of 70s language and geometric lines have been respected in its recent upcycling. The heart and soul of the place remains faithful to its original spirit, and perfectly blends with today's 21st-century comforts.
"THE MODERNIST" features 6 apartment-like suites of 45m2 with a private balcony or terrace, an access to the vegetal patio and the rooftop to sunbathe and enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the natural park laguna "Ria Formosa"recently elected as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal.
Each suite and outdoor space have been renovated by Portuguese award-winning Architecture studio Par in full respect of its original Mid-Century Modern Design, from the original materials (stone, wood, windows) to the most specific details like door handles, lighting, curtains and artisan made wood furniture.
Every single part of this project has been imagined, designed & manufactured in PORTUGAL and mostly from the Algarve less than 100km from site.
"THE MODERNIST" DNA is to reduce at maximum the CO2 footprint and enable & promote the local economy.
WE PROMOTE PORTUGUESE MODERN ARCHITECTURE
Faro has one of the largest concentrations of modern architecture in South Europe. Visionary architects, most who graduated from the prestigious"Architecture School of Porto" (ESBA) came to the Algarve and brought their own spin on Bauhaus and the International Style, reworking it for the Algarve environment.
Let's meet a few of influent Architects of the Modern Algarve:
Fernando Tavora
1923-2005 Porto School of Architecture.
Considered the father of modern Architecture in Portugal. He is one of the few who participated in the international congress of Modern architecture in the 50s where he met among others "Le Corbusier."
He is the master of the Porto Architecture school and trained a generation of enlightened professionals, including Alvaro Siza and Edouardo Souto de Moura who both won later in their career the prestigious Pritzker price.
As Tavora used to say: "I am the Portuguese Architecture."
Manuel Laginha
1919-1985 Porto School of Architecture.
Born in Loulé Algarve, he lived in Porto, London, France and Belgium before coming back to Portugal. He worked as urban planner of major cities and then, came back to Loulé where he designed directly or indirectly most of its modern buildings. He won the prestigious Valmor Architecture award in 1957 for its collective buildings in Olivais Sul in Lisbon.
Manuel Gomes Da Costa
1921-2016 Porto School of Architecture.
He was a great leader of the Modernist Movement in the Algarve. He campaigned for the recognition of Portuguese modernism as an artistic creation and as an architectural heritage.
In Faro, around 300 buildings are signed by the architect. Public buildings, social facilities, high-rise buildings, hotels, schools, but also the houses have made him famous.
He had a singular vision of South Modernism due to the influence of his clients, most of them wealthy immigrants from Venezuela and Brazil who educated him about the South American Modern culture.
Antonio Vicente Castro
1920-2002 Porto School of Architecture.
He has designed around 120 buildings mostly located in Portimao in the Algarve and is often considered the Father of Modernism in that coastal city. He built residential buildings, villas, industrial buildings, public infrastructures but also furniture. He was a close friend of Manuel Gomes da Costa.
Take the time to discover Faro's architectural gems with the self-walking tour designed and provided for our guests, which is also an alternative way to discover the city.
And if you want more, you can play The Modernist Game and train your Architect skills!
LET'S EXPLORE THE MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE OF FARO
Meet our Faro's Modernist buildings & details crush !
COLLABORATION &
PRESS
Happy to reveal our collaborations and press coverage. Press inquiries : Sandra Nobre from shortstories.pt
