Luísa Teotónio Pereira
To cite this paper: TEOTÓNIO PEREIRA, Luísa; – Cerimony in honour of Architect Nuno Teotónio Pereira, held by Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana (IHRU) Lisbon, Thalia Theatre, 20 December 2016 Estudo Prévio. Lisboa: CEACT/UAL – Centro de Estudos de Arquitetura, Cidade e Território da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 2016. ISSN: 2182-4339 [Available at: www.estudoprevio.net]
Abstract
I will not go over my father’s professional achievements but simply recall that he was not only an architect who designed houses, among other buildings, in different decades and places, based on different programs (single-family, multi- family, for rich and poor people, in particular, social houses), but also a researcher. He conducted the survey on popular architecture in Portugal (Inquérito à Arquitetura Popular em Portugal – 1955) and later, in Lisbon, he worked with Irene Buarque on the development of buildings and neighbourhoods in Lisbon, in particular in the 19th and 20th centuries (1995), as well as coordinated a team who later published the book on the city of Montijo “Montijo, um património a preservar: arquitetura doméstica de expressão protomoderna” (2008). Moreover and more importantly, he fought for the right to have a house. His well-known phrase was “habitação para o maior número” (“a house for as many people as possible”), which he stated at the First National Architect Conference in 1948 and which is the title of a book published by IHRU and Lisbon City Hall, edited by Nuno Portas (2013).
Keywords: Father, Teotónio Pereira, a house for as many people as possible, tribute, IHRU
.jpg)
© Pedro Frade – Todos os direitos reservados
Ceremony in honour of Architect Nuno Teotónio Pereira.
Held by Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana (IHRU) Lisbon, Thalia Theatre, 20 December 2016
Mister Secretary of State, Mister President of IHRU, Dear friends
We thank you for this tribute and the opportunity to say a few words.
This tribute makes much sense to us. Mainly for two reasons: firstly, because my father chose to leave his legacy on intervention in architecture and urban planning to this institution and his work was welcome, preserved and made available, which we want to thank you for; secondly, because a larger part of my father’s life was dedicated to what IHRU’s Prize focuses on: housing and restoration.
I will not go over my father’s professional achievements but simply recall that he was not only an architect who designed houses, among other buildings, in different decades and places, based on different programs (single-family, multi- family, for rich and poor people, in particular, social houses), but also a researcher. He conducted the survey on popular architecture in Portugal (Inquérito à Arquitetura Popular em Portugal – 1955) and later, in Lisbon, he worked with Irene Buarque on the development of buildings and neighbourhoods in Lisbon, in particular in the 19th and 20th centuries (1995), as well as coordinated a team who later published the book on the city of Montijo “Montijo, um património a preservar: arquitetura doméstica de expressão protomoderna” (2008). Moreover and more importantly, he fought for the right to have a house. His well-known phrase was “habitação para o maior número” (“a house for as many people as possible”), which he stated at the First National Architect Conference in 1948 and which is the title of a book published by IHRU and Lisbon City Hall, edited by Nuno Portas (2013).
In the past few years he focused on housing. We often discussed the demolitions, which he described as “haphazard and wild”, of neighbourhoods in the area of Amadora, the evictions of many families because of the economic crisis. Just today, a newspaper stated that, since March 2014, about five families have been evicted every day. This problem persists today and has, in fact, increased with austerity policies (which deliberately made it invisible) and has left grave consequences we must face with determination.
He was one of the first to insist on the relevance of building restoration. In 1998, he wrote about the restoration of historical neighbourhoods in Lisbon, a text which was followed by many others on the subject. Today, building restoration is under the spotlight. But it requires a change in mentalities, habits and policies. I recall a conversation we had perhaps 3 or 4 years ago, which was rather spontaneous and that I regret not having recorded, on the training of architects on restoration and the changes in formal training that would require. This priority is in line with creation of fairer, more sustainable and more egalitarian societies. We need anti- waste policies, responsible consumption, we need to produce less, buy less, restore and reuse more.
Today we celebrate Nuno Teotónio Pereira, the architect concerned with housing and with building restoration. Other aspects of my father’s life will not be mentioned here: the urban planner, the writer, the photographer, the amateur geographer, the catholic activist at a certain point in time, the social and political activist throughout his life… In common to all these are his strong convictions and the determination to put them in practice. That is what we still need today.
Luísa Teotónio Pereira