‘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.

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsositeimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsogreen space open to the public interior spacesimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsowindows allow views and natural lightimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoview from the streetimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoentrance between two structuresimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoobservation towerimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirso(left) convergence of both structures(right) stairs of the staircaseimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsobunk roomsimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsolarge garage doorimage © joao morgado

 

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoopening doorimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoa grid of concrete beams supports the thin envelope of the garageimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsocontrol roomimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsocirculation interiorimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsointerior stairsimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsomain hallwayimage © joao morgado

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsobunk roomsimage © joao morgado

 

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirso

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsosite plan

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsofloor plan / level 0

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsofloor plan / level 1

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoroof plan

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsosection

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsosection

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsosection

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoelevation

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoelevation

 

 

alvaro siza: fire station and barracks in santo tirsoelevation

 

 

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