Álvaro Siza Vieira

Álvaro Siza Vieira, fully named Álvaro Joaquim de Melo Siza Vieira, is one of Portugal's most renowned architects. Born in 1933, he graduated from the University of Porto as an architect in 1955, having already completed some of his first projects during his studies. His architectural philosophy highlights the social and cultural importance of design. Among his most iconic works are the Leça da Palmeira swimming pools, the Boa Nova Tea House, and the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto, all in Portugal, as well as the Galician Centre of Contemporary Art in Santiago de Compostela, the Bonjour Tristesse residential building in Berlin, the Amore Pacific Research & Design Center in Seoul, and the Iberê Camargo Foundation in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

In addition to winning the prestigious Pritzker Prize, Siza Vieira has been honoured with numerous other awards, including the Alvar Aalto Medal, the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and the Mies van der Rohe Award. He has also taught at the University of Porto and served as a visiting professor at both Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.