Visual
     Stories

Shake hands, pose for the press, cut the ribbon.

Nature was coming closer to the city, but 948 healthy trees had to be cut down. Satisfied with our work, we get into our luxury cars, headed to our countryside villas.

The beloved public space will now turn into a wasteland of dust and construction machinery. Pedestrian paths will become obstacle courses, nearly impossible to traverse by healthy people. Elderly, disabled or parents with strollers should probably just stay home. When finished, the new development will present modern designs full of hostility and a sterile environment devoid of character. You’ve been excluded from where you live.

Worry not.

In two years, we will be finished and you can enjoy your newly developed public space.

We missed the deadline, but give us two more years.

And then, perhaps, two more…

I see doors opening, spaces revealed. Individuals move freely, unobstructed by barriers, and guided across the city, passing through the holes. City streets are a cauldron of possibilities, where every step forward is a step towards equality.

As I look upon the city, its fabric tears apart, the cracks are now gates leading to equal opportunities and participation. The walls that once divided now connect, and the city becomes a place that dignifies its citizens.

It’s here, in this vision, that I dream of a reality where equality is within reach. I wake up to the barriers that exist, I’m compelled to take action. Holes can now be closed with inclusive planning, the tears mended by communities that want to build this future, and the people will heal within the city and its walls.

The 7 photos presented in this Visual Stories translate 3 different tours and visits, the 1st of which started in the neighborhood of Alvalade (Imgs nº : 0625; 0807; 0838) 2nd walk through the neighborhood of Telheiras (imgs nº 1079 ; 1153) 3rd tour in the Convent of Chelas (imgs nº 1647; 1661)

“Building Connections, Transforming Legacies” encapsulates the captivating visual journey of urban evolution. This narrative unfolds through a series of striking images portraying the intricate interplay between old and new architectural marvels, linked by lines that symbolize continuity and transformation. Each building, steeped in its own historical significance, undergoes a metamorphosis as it embraces a new purpose, breathing fresh vitality into urban spaces while honoring their storied past. Through the lens of this visual story, viewers are invited to witness the seamless fusion of tradition and innovation, where heritage buildings find renewed relevance in the modern world. “Building Connections, Transforming Legacies” celebrates the resilience of urban landscapes, showcasing how the preservation and adaptation of architectural legacies contribute to the dynamic tapestry of our cities. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of reinvention and the timeless beauty of architectural heritage.

Enjoy my Visual Story, featuring a new school project by the architects João Santa Rita and Paulo Palma. Accessibility, well-being, areas to coexist, fully functional and efficient spaces, along with the designed sustainable solutions, make this project a great example of inclusive architecture.

Grief and loss are universal human experiences. But our cities and cultures rarely give us space to acknowledge the grief we’re carrying.

We’re so accustomed to hiding our emotions that they may become inaccessible even to us.

Grief is often invisible.

Open House Lisboa 2024 coincided with Mother’s Day in the US.

Lisbon-based curator of The Grief Gallery Charlene Lam visited the Palácio Sinel de Cordes, home of the Trienal de Lisboa, carrying a ceramic Hello Kitty figure from her childhood to represent her hidden emotions: grief for her mom, mourning for her child self.

Grief made visible.

In the background, the monumental dome of the Panteão. Our loved ones may not be famous but they can be monumental to us.

How can our built environments make normal human emotions like grief more accessible?

How can we be more inclusive of people whose inner spaces may be in turmoil?

When we pause to observe the intriguing dance of shapes and forms, whether they mirror or contrast each other, we unlock the pleasure of witnessing geometry in motion. These visual dialogues weave connections that resonate throughout the fabric of life.

Accessibility and inclusion in architecture often represent theoretical concepts rather than experiences. This film contrasts different experiences visiting the same building (the central mosque of Lisbon), concentrating on the area that is strongly connected to the supposedly shared experience of praying. The film contrasts the architectural experience of this central area, crowned by a cupola, from the hall on the ground floor, where the men meet and pray, with that from the gallery upstairs, where the women are supposed to pray.
Framework (beginning, end and acoustics) based on the diptych slide show Revolutionary by Rogério Taveira, part of Open House Lisboa 2024.
Background music: Sergei Chetvertnykh, Islam dream, Pixabay.

The acoustic infusion of a moment from The Code by Nemo at the end alludes to a possible non-binary gender experience of the given architecture – which was impossible to represent visually as it’s an experience architecturally not planned in.

Lisbon OPEN HOUSE
by @trienaldelisboa @openhouseeurope @archfondas @openhouseworldwide

My 2024 year list:
– Hotel The Editory Riverside – Santa Apolónia @editoryhotels
– Casa Atochada by Rodrigo Lima
– Antigo Hotel Vitória @pcplisboa
– Edifício João XXI @caixageraldedepositos
– Atelier EMMA @emmarquitectos
– Edifício The One @jll_residential_pt
– Apartamento
– Escola Básica Arquitecto Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles @atelier_da_praia
– Palácio Baldaya @baldayapalacio
Music: Angels_Dark Sky

How strangers’ lives intersect, several ways, during the visit to a private apartment in Lisbon, during the Open House