In situ concrete spaces: introducing Nuno M. Sousa s practice

[EN] Nuno Melo Sousa (NMS) presents himself as an architectural practice based in Penafiel, a small city 40 km from Porto, that believes in method, provocation, and the production of architecture through an intuitive collaborative process. Introduces his work as having a close relationship with the peculiar construction context in which it is inserted, hinged on simple building processes determined with and by clients with the help of local artisans. In addition, he would also add the aim to do most with few means, looking at sustainability as a way of reusing existing elements as a generator.[ES] Nuno Melo Sousa (NMS) se presenta como un estudio de arquitectura con sede en Penafiel, una pequeña ciudad a 40 km de Oporto, que cree en el método, la provocación y la producción de arquitectura a través de un proceso colaborativo e intuitivo. Muestra su obra en estrecha relación con el peculiar contexto constructivo en el que se inserta, articulada en procesos constructivos sencillos determinados con y para los clientes, con la ayuda de artesanos locales. También tiene como objetivo hacer más con pocos medios, viendo la sostenibilidad como una forma de reutilizar lo existente como generador.Casal Ribeiro, H. (2022). In situ espacios concretos: introduciendo la práctica de Nuno M. Sousa. https://doi.org/10.4995/eb.2022.17524OJ

Compromise and utopia_ an interrupted intent of the modern endeavour

The present essay is part of a research on the design process between the 1940s and 1960s, an experimental period in the portuguese modern architectural scene, that in the attempt to construct a renovated discourse, incorporates and reformulates the principles defended by the modern movement, transforming a potentially anachronistic moment - a consequence of sociocultural asymmetry with international context - in a foundational period for Portuguese contemporary architecture, whereby we can enhance themes specific to SAAL's process. The purpose is to pursue a narrative that seeks to formulate an updated and prepositional response to the problems of our time - how to integrate, through the discourse of compromise, the premises and heritage of modern architecture, in response to mundane circumstances, without losing its transformative and inspiring condition for a new future. We aim to overlap the design process of São Victor SAAL, 1974/77, Alvaro Siza and Edifício do OURO, 1951/55, Mário Bonito, given the dichotomous relationship between authorship (extraordinary architecture) and social activism (architecture and power), emphasizing the social dimension needed to respond to the pressing issues of today's society