Architecture in Porto: Top 10 Best Projects

Architecture in Porto is the perfect combination between tradition and innovation. Take a look at the 10 best projects!

Porto aka European Best Destination 2017, is fascinating tourists from all corners of the world with its culture, amazing sun and architecture. And if it was possible to describe all details that make this wonderful city one of the best to visit this year, this article would eventually become a book, believe me.

Since we didn’t want to bother you too much, today we decided to highlight one of the best things Porto has to offer – its architecture. Porto‘s landscapes convey traditional yet modern aesthetics that combine the beauty of Portuguese tiles and history with the technological advance of the city.

Porto Architecture was born in the hands of architects such as José Marques da Silva in the beginning of the 20th century, Arménio Losa and Cassiano Barbosa that renewed and transformed it, Álvaro Siza Vieira and Eduardo Souto de Moura that introduced the school of Porto to the world. The result of such work is a time-honored town that inspires and will continue to inspire freedom and art.

If you’re considering to travel to Porto anytime soon, make sure to schedule a few more days if you want to learn and explore the vast and extremely fascinating work of these and other Portuguese Architects. To help you out, today at Luxxu we decided to share with you the Top 10 Best Architecture Projects in Porto so you don’t miss anything big!

Take a look.

10 – COVET HOUSE

Located above the Douro River landscapes, the Covet House stands out in a serene manner, between rustic-style gardens and granite stonework. It’s interior is surrounded by contemporary and luxury comfort, created to showcase the works of Porto’s finest luxury design brands including Boca do Lobo, Luxxu, Koket and DelightFull.

9 – CEBES COLLEGE

A group of buildings for the new facilities of the College Cebes (secondary school), which is situated in Foz do Douro, in the municipality of Porto. The project proposes a building that is based on the integration in the surrounding environment characterized by single-family luxury homes, volumes somewhat fragmented, with balconies and rooftops.

8 – VODAFONE HEADQUARTERS

Designed by the architects Barbosa & Guimarães, the Vodafone building has a total of 7472 square meters of construction (3560 above and 3912 under the ground) on a site area of 1971 square meters. The final cost of the construction was 11.500.000€.

7 – CARLOS RAMOS PAVILLION

The Carlos Ramos Pavilion, one of a set of buildings of the School of Architecture of Porto (FAUP), in Portugal, was designed by the architect Álvaro Siza. Built between 1985 and 1986 has recently been rehabilitated.

6 – DOM LUIS I BRIDGE

Completed in 1886 by a student of Gustave Eiffel, the bridge’s top deck is now reserved for pedestrians, as well as one of the city’s metro lines; the lower deck bears regular traffic, as well as narrow walkways for those on foot. The views of the river and Old Town are simply stunning, as are the daredevils who leap from the lower level.

5 – SERRALVES MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

The architectural plans for the Serralves Museum were first drawn up in 1991 by the architect Alvaro Siza. The new building was finally inaugurated in 1999, harmoniously integrated within the surrounding urban area and the pre-existing spaces of the gardens of the Park and Villa.

4 – CLERIGOS TOWER

Clérigos church tower was the tallest structure in Portugal when completed in 1763 (the national record is now Lisbon’s Vasco da Gama Tower), and as the main feature of the city’s skyline, ships used it as a guide when coming into Cais da Ribeira. It’s a remarkable baroque landmark designed by the Italian architect Nasoni, who also designed the adjoining church.

3 – ROSA MOTA PAVILION

The Pavilhão dos Desportos was previously called Pavilhão Rosa Mota in honour of the illustrious athlete from Porto. Opened in 1956, it was built to replace the famous Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) which was demolished in 1951. This dome shaped building was the project of architect José Carlos Loureiro. It can be used for various sporting, recreational and cultural events namely, music concerts, theater, circus, congress and expositions among others.

2 – VIDAGO PALACE SPA

In stark contrast to the main building’s Belle Epoque opulence, The Spa is a minimalist oasis of clean lines and white marble. Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, the modern, zen-like space has a distinctly calming quality.

1 – CASA DA MÚSICA

Casa da Musica was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas alongside the Office for Metropolitan Architecture and renowned engineers Arup, and no sooner was it completed, it became something of a cultural icon in Porto. It stands at an impressive 12 storeys high and boasts an eye-catching, irregular shape becoming number one in our list!