In this episode Bruno and Sylvester and Diego Calderon interview Manuel Rocha de Aires Mateus.
His practice, which he established with his brother in Lisbon in 1988 represents another pole of the deep architectural culture of Portugal. In contrast with the work of the Porto School Lisbon architects engage with more abstracted reading of type and materiality.
Aires Matues are among the best known proponents of this way of thinking. Externally their buildings tend to the monolithic, with a language of eroded forms. There is a calibrated conversation with gravity here, and with mass lightly suspended, or tautly drawn on its surface with windows and other detailing. Internally the landscapes are rich, even sculptural.
Manuel is a Professor in the Accademia di Archittetura in Mendrisio, a school which shares our agenda in prioritising the practitioner and the built work in thinking about our discipline.
---------
Credits:
Register is brought to you by the Department of Architecture & Landscape at the Kingston School of Art, Kingston University London http://kingstonarchitecture.london
Head of Department: Mary Johnson
Producer: Andrew Clancy / Laura Evans
Interviewer: Bruno Silvestre & Diego Calderon
Editor: Andrew Clancy