alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirso

‘fire station in santo tirso’ by alvaro siza, santo tirso, portugalimage © joao morgadoall images courtesy of joao morgado

‘the fire station in santo tirso’ and accompanying barracks by renowned portuguese architect alvaro siza optimizes the livability and functionssurrounding a structure that needs to perform efficiently at any moment of the day while still providing the necessary comforts of home. a lobby, reception, offices, board room, and fully accessible bathrooms are organized over three floors that contain separate entrances fromthe peripheral streets, streamlining circulation. simple rectilinear geometries are accentuated through the use of material. the angular barracksare made of a uniform brick, attached to the garage space which is a pristine concrete box composed of a thin envelope made structurally sound with integrated beams in a regular grid pattern. glass panels cut into the solid masses exposing the corridors and public spaces, highlighted withan overhanging eave that shades the interior during hot summer days. all the structures are within a landscaped site where the green sections continue onto the rooftops, and expansive paved driveways allow plenty of space for the large trucks and events. the interior contains pristinewhite surfaces that create a bright relaxing ambiance.

image © joao morgado

siteimage © joao morgado

green space open to the public interior spacesimage © joao morgado

windows allow views and natural lightimage © joao morgado

view from the streetimage © joao morgado

image © joao morgado

entrance between two structuresimage © joao morgado

observation towerimage © joao morgado

(left) convergence of both structures(right) stairs of the staircaseimage © joao morgado

bunk roomsimage © joao morgado

large garage doorimage © joao morgado

opening doorimage © joao morgado

a grid of concrete beams supports the thin envelope of the garageimage © joao morgado

control roomimage © joao morgado

circulation interiorimage © joao morgado

interior stairsimage © joao morgado

main hallwayimage © joao morgado

bunk roomsimage © joao morgado

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

roof plan

section

section

section

elevation

elevation

elevation

project info:

architecture: arq. álvaro siza vieiraproject coordinator: arq. josé carlos nunes de oliveiracollaborators: arq. marco rampulla, arq. pablo elinbaum. arq. patrícia teixeira . arq. josé pedro silvastructure project: eng. jorge nunes da silva, eng. raquel diaselectricity and security project: eng. alexandre martinshvac project: eng. raul bessawater and sanitation project: eng. raquel fernandesclient: associação humanitária bombeiros voluntários de santo tirsocontractor: empripar, obras pública e privadas s.a.photography: joao morgado