Fernando Távora
Encyclopedia
Fernando Luís Cardoso de Meneses de Tavares e Távora, simply known as Fernando Távora (Porto
, August 25, 1923 - Matosinhos
, September 3, 2005), was a renowned Portuguese
architect
and professor
.
The sixth of seven children and third of three sons of José Pinto Tavares de Mendonça Ferrão or José Ferrão de Tavares e Távora and wife Maria José do Amaral Ferrão Lobo Machado or Maria José Lobo de Sousa Machado Cardoso de Meneses, of the Viscounts of Paço de Nespereira, he inherited from his mother the House of Covilhã. He graduated in architecture from the Porto School of Fine Arts (the current school of architecture
of the University of Porto
) in 1952. Having sat the examination in Fine Composition for Professor of Architecture, he was later invited to become a Professor at the school.
Later on, Távora became "President of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto
" and university professor at the same faculty, as well as professor of the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra, by which he was made a Doctor Honoris Causa.
He was granted a scholarship by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
and the Institute for Culture in the United States and Japan in 1960. He took part in the late 50's "Survey on Portuguese Architecture" and was the author of several essays, namely "O Problema da Casa Portuguesa" (Lisbon, 1947) and "Da Organização do Espaço" (Porto, 1962 and 1982).
Besides his academic career, Távora worked as an architect for Porto Town Council, consultant to Vila Nova de Gaia
Town Council, consultant in the "Commissariat on the Urban Renovation of the Ribeira/Barredo" (Porto) project, consultant in the "Technical Bureau of the Northern Planning Commission", and consultant in the "Local Technical Bureau of Guimarães
Town Council".
Távora's work was exhibited at exhibitions around the world, including the Smithsonian Institution
, Washington; "Artes Plásticas I and II" at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
, Lisbon; "Eleven Architects from Oporto", Lisbon; "Architectures à Porto", Clemont Ferrand; Europália 1991, Brussels; and the Venice Biennial.
He was awarded several prizes in architecture, as well as the Golden Medal of the city of Porto and the "Comenda da Ordem Militar de Santiago e Espada".
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, August 25, 1923 - Matosinhos
Matosinhos
Matosinhos Municipality is located in Porto District, Portugal. The main city is Matosinhos. It is bordered to the south by the city of Porto and lies within the Greater Porto subregion. The municipality has a population of 168,451 in 10 parishes. Many people have recently moved from the...
, September 3, 2005), was a renowned Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
.
The sixth of seven children and third of three sons of José Pinto Tavares de Mendonça Ferrão or José Ferrão de Tavares e Távora and wife Maria José do Amaral Ferrão Lobo Machado or Maria José Lobo de Sousa Machado Cardoso de Meneses, of the Viscounts of Paço de Nespereira, he inherited from his mother the House of Covilhã. He graduated in architecture from the Porto School of Fine Arts (the current school of architecture
Porto School of Architecture
The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto , or FAUP, is an architecture faculty located in Porto, Portugal, and one of the thirteen constituent faculties of the University of Porto.- History :...
of the University of Porto
University of Porto
The University of Porto is a Portuguese public university located in Porto, and founded 22 March 1911. It is the largest Portuguese university by number of enrolled students and has one of the most noted research outputs in Portugal...
) in 1952. Having sat the examination in Fine Composition for Professor of Architecture, he was later invited to become a Professor at the school.
Later on, Távora became "President of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto
Porto School of Architecture
The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto , or FAUP, is an architecture faculty located in Porto, Portugal, and one of the thirteen constituent faculties of the University of Porto.- History :...
" and university professor at the same faculty, as well as professor of the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra, by which he was made a Doctor Honoris Causa.
He was granted a scholarship by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private foundation of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts, charity, education, and science...
and the Institute for Culture in the United States and Japan in 1960. He took part in the late 50's "Survey on Portuguese Architecture" and was the author of several essays, namely "O Problema da Casa Portuguesa" (Lisbon, 1947) and "Da Organização do Espaço" (Porto, 1962 and 1982).
Besides his academic career, Távora worked as an architect for Porto Town Council, consultant to Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River. The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total...
Town Council, consultant in the "Commissariat on the Urban Renovation of the Ribeira/Barredo" (Porto) project, consultant in the "Technical Bureau of the Northern Planning Commission", and consultant in the "Local Technical Bureau of Guimarães
Guimarães
Guimarães Municipality is located in northwestern Portugal in the province of Minho and in the Braga District. It contains the city of Guimarães.The present Mayor is António Magalhães Silva, elected by the Socialist Party.-Parishes:-Economy:...
Town Council".
Távora's work was exhibited at exhibitions around the world, including the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, Washington; "Artes Plásticas I and II" at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private foundation of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts, charity, education, and science...
, Lisbon; "Eleven Architects from Oporto", Lisbon; "Architectures à Porto", Clemont Ferrand; Europália 1991, Brussels; and the Venice Biennial.
He was awarded several prizes in architecture, as well as the Golden Medal of the city of Porto and the "Comenda da Ordem Militar de Santiago e Espada".
See also
- Portuguese architecture