Fernando Távora and the Concept for a New Civic Centre for Aveiro: Urban Project, Modernity and the Enhancement of the Urban Landscape

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the importance of the urban project for the Central Zone of Aveiro both from the perspective of the work of Fernando Távora and also as a Portuguese example of the concepts of the Revision of the Modern Movement as they were applied in the early 1960s. We present the project and the historical context of its conception. Fernando Távora’s proposal, started in 1962 along with the master plan for the city, sought to solve urban problems through architectural intervention, thus promoting a new identity through the creation of a new civic centre for the city, which included new road and pedestrian circulation routes, new monumental landmarks in the consolidated urban space, and the intensification of commercial and service use, in addition to housing improvements and land valuation. The project involved a re-reading of the city’s historical attributes and, thus, the buildings designed, despite having a modern character, were intended to promote the appreciation of the historic city and the urban landscape around the city’s Central Canal. In the context of the Revision of the Modern Movement, we view this work as an example of the discussions that took place in the last CIAMs – International Congresses of Modern Architecture.

Keywords

• fernando távora
• aveiro
• civic centre
• urban project
• revision of the modern movement