Visual Glosa #3: Caring for the Iconic Works of Siza Vieira
Author: Beatriz Duarte
in Glosar #01 & #02
Editors: Laís Rabello de Andrade, Beatriz Duarte, Tiago Assis
Published by: i2ADS
ISSN:
2026
publishing researching; writing
The text reflects on a visit to two iconic works by Álvaro Siza in Leça da Palmeira, the Boa Nova Tea House and the Leça Swimming Pools, highlighting their close relationship with the landscape and the body.
Beyond their architectural qualities, the focus shifts to what sustains these spaces: maintenance, preparation, and everyday labor. Observing the sites before opening revealed the often invisible work that enables their use, from setting tables to repairing surfaces.
At the same time, the text questions how these buildings have been transformed over time, especially the Tea House, now embedded in circuits of luxury and restricted access. It reflects on how architecture moves between public and exclusive uses, and how authorship often overshadows the collective processes behind it. The projects are understood not as fixed objects, but as living structures, marked by time, use, and continuous care.
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