ARCHITECTURAL WORKS AND DESIGNS

Tomas Taveira is Portugal’s leading architect and one the foremost exponents of Post Modernism today. With an introductory essay by Geoffrey Broadbent, and a theoretical paper by the architect himself, this volume illustrates all his major works. Carefully designed to convey the warmth and sensuality of forms and colours which reflect the historical spirit of Lisbon and the Mediterranean setting, the book also gives space to many evocative sketches, working drawings and detailed plans. The popularity and scale of buildings such as the Torres das Amoreiras is portrayed in numerous stunning colour images, whilst drawings and project descriptions reveal the importance of his influences and ideas. From his earliest projects designed as a student, through buildings which are amongst some of Lisbon’s favourite landmarks, to Taveria’s most recent projects, the book reveals his clear commitment to Post Modernism, as Taveira says, Post Modernism emerges as a philosophical necessity, as non-unified, non-unitary aesthetics, which explains the appearance of entirely new architectures essentially opposed to modernist aesthetics. The book concludes with a selection of design projects for chairs and furniture, and transfigurations, traditional objects transformed into colourful and exotic forms. Ornamentation, polychromy, metaphor, humour, symbolism and various other conventions are richly illustrated throughout, making it clear why Tomas Taveira is one of Europe’s most successful builders of Post Modernism today.