Portuguese Architects at RIBA, London

Following Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza’s Royal Gold Medal win earlier this year and with names like Eduardo Souto de Moura and Fernando Távora in their architectural portfolio, we need no proof to the fact that the small southern country has produced some real architecture heavyweights.
Continuing on that tradition while looking forward towards the country’s upcoming offerings, the RIBA’s Overlappings exhibition, which opened this week in Gallery 1, is a delightful showcase of emerging talent.


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The exhibition features architecture by six practices; Aires Mateus, Bak Gordon, Inês Lobo, João Favila, Paulo David and Ricardo Carvalho and Joana Vilhena, in a small but beautiful display.
Designed by one of the architects, João Favila, paired with graphic design by Atelier Pedro Falcão, the exhibition presents the architects’ work in a minimal and effective way, all material craftily placed within large wooden boxes, similar to those used in art transportation.
The display presentation includes not just models and photographs, but also drawings and even more interestingly, material samples and small film presentations in an exploration of some of the practices’ landmark projects.
Jonathan Sergison of Brit practice Sergison Bates introduces the show and work by Portugal and Brazil-based photographer Linked wordsLeonardo Finotti further illustrates some of the projects.
Ranging from education and cultural buildings, to hospitality projects and lots of private residences, Overlappings highlights Portugal’s young architectural blood and allows a glimpse into its promising architectural future.