2023 marks the centenary of the birth of Fernando Távora (1923-2005), the master of Portuguese Modern Movement, whose legacy remains in full force. The Docomomo Ibérico Foundation has registered only six of his buildings: Ramalde Neighbourhood (1952-1960), Santa Maria da Feira Municipal Market (1953-1959), Dr. Fernando Ribeiro da Silva’s House in Ofir (1956-1958), the Tennis Pavilion at Quinta da Conceição (1956-1960), the Primary School in Cedro (1957-1961) and, finally, the convent of the Franciscan Sisters of Calais (1961-1971). They all belong to his first professional period, the period between 1945 and 1962.
These were also the years of his deepest reflection, during which he wrote the first version of “O Problema da Casa Portuguesa”, his study on the background of the traditional house; his essay Da organização do espaço, which univocally relates urbanism and architecture; his opinion column in O Comércio do Porto; his Diario de Bordo, written during his trip around the world; or the essay “O encontro de Royaumont” which summarises his experiences at this meeting of the Team 10, apart from the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne. The evolution of his theoretical thinking, and his architectural principles, was not stylistic, but rather his reflection on what is valid in both modernity and tradition.
His works and writings were always in constant interaction and inseparable from his personal experiences, both in his office and at the Porto School. Yet his contribution has not received the recognition it deserves, despite his influence on Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura, both Pritzker Prize winners. Visiting his buildings, consulting the archives of the architect and of the municipalities where they were built, and studying his writings, have been key to researching his transformation into a master of Portuguese architecture in the second half of the 20th century.