Before / After: Álvaro Siza

A curated survey of the legendary Portuguese architect’s most interesting buildings, photographed by Duccio Malagamba

The renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza is widely regarded as one of the most important architects of the 20th and 21st centuries. Recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, his architectural works are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, characterized by their elegant simplicity, careful attention to detail, and harmonious integration with the surrounding environment.

Conceived together with acclaimed architectural photographer Duccio Malagamba, the book reflects twenty compelling global projects personally selected by Siza, with each feature accompanied by the architect’s inspired hand drawings. The features are additionally illustrated by Malagamba’s photography, reflecting the enduring relationship between the two men for the last three decades.

Siza’s work has had a significant impact on younger generations of architects, and his approach to architecture, rooted in careful observation and a deep understanding of the human experience, has influenced countless designers around the world. Born in Portugal in 1933, Siza has received much international recognition, including the Pritzker Prize, the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, and the Japanese Praemium Imperiale and his unique approach to space and volume continues to inspire contemporary designers and architects today.

This book offers a unique opportunity to look at his work through his selection of 20 projects in Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Portugal, South Korea, and Spain, shown through his personal drawings and Duccio Malagamba’s elegant photography.

Álvaro Joaquim de Melo Siza Vieira is a Portuguese architect, designer, and architectural educator. He is internationally known as Álvaro Siza and in Portugal as Siza Vieira. Born in 1933, he is considered one of Portugal’s greatest architects. He has received honorary degrees from and taught in universities around the world, including Portugal, the United States, Switzerland, and South America. His work has been the subject of numerous books and exhibitions, and he has been honoured with many awards, including the 1992 Pritzker Prize, the ’European Award for Architecture’ from the Economic European Community/Mies van der Rohe Foundation, and the Gold Medal of the Alvar Aalto Foundation.

Duccio Malagamba is an Italian architectural photographer. A trained architect, he applies this eye for design to his photography, collaborating with studios such as Herzog & de Meuron, Coop Himmelb(l)au, and Rafael Moneo, among others. He has been awarded ’Lux’ National Photography Prizes by the Spanish Association of Professional Photographers on four occasions and his photographs are featured regularly by specialized magazines and publishing houses worldwide.