foundation

The headquarters of the Foundation Nadir Afonso, an investment of nine million euros a project by architect Siza Vieira, will be built by 2011 in Chaves in honor of the painter and architect flaviense.

The architectural project, a work that is a partnership between the City Council of Chaves and Nadir Afonso Foundation, is presented on January 16, Chaves, a ceremony with the presence of the masters Nadir Afonso and Siza Vieira.

Painter, architect and philosopher, Nadir Afonso Rodrigues was born in Chaves, 4 December 1920, graduated in Architecture at the School of Fine Arts of Porto and in 1965, has definitively abandoned architecture to devote himself exclusively to the creation of their plastic work.

The Speaker of the House of Keys, John the Baptist, Lusa said today that the tender for the work will be released after submission of architectural design, it is expected that the construction has still early in the year 2009.

The Mayor states that the work of the foundation is completed in mid-2011.

John the Baptist also said that the municipality and Nadir Afonso Foundation submitted an application to the axis of the nine Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) worth nine million euros, which includes the acquisition of land, execution of work and equipment.

The headquarters of the foundation will be inserted next to the center of Chaves and will ensure the restoration of the riverfront Tâmega.

The building will host the artist's estate and will help to boost the city's cultural life transmontana betting on the fringes capture different audiences, organizing permanent and temporary exhibitions, Nadir Afonso giving the prize for research and scholarship in the field of artistic production and scientific.

The foundation will also organize documentary film series, workshops and courses for children and youth summer

Among the areas that make up the foundation of the building include an auditorium with a capacity of 100 rooms, permanent and temporary exhibitions, library and cafeteria, workshop of the Master Nadir Afonso, another fine arts and shop.

John the Baptist called the painter as "the greatest living exponent of the culture" of Clark, whose work qualifies as "recognized nationally and internationally."

"Nadir Afonso is a symbol, an example we want to preserve. The construction of the headquarters is the Key to pay tribute to the painter, "he said.

The mayor also believes that the choice of Siza's work is to design "a happy association," it believes that the building itself will become an architectural point of attraction of the town of Chaves.

John the Baptist also said that the Foundation Nadir Afonso will form a "cultural triangle" with the newly opened Museum of the Douro, the weight of the Ruler, and the Museum of the Coa, which will be built in Vila Nova de Foz Coa.

The total tendency of Nadir Afonso for the painting was revealed in four years, at home, when traced in red ink a perfect circle in the living room wall. In 1934, he underwent the first works in oil and in 1938 won second prize for "What is the most beautiful stretch of the Portuguese landscape?".

While taking the course in architecture, painting and did not leave, in the 40s, began to expose and impact with the criticism.

Nadir was 24 when one of his works, "The Riverside" was admitted to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lisbon.

In 1965, definitely abandoned the "painful" architecture and developed studies on the geometry, which considers the essence of art. So your life shall be devoted exclusively to the creation of an extensive theoretical and plastic work.

The project leader of the foundation headquarters ADIR N Alfonso, Alvaro Siza Vieira, Portuguese architect is the most prestigious internationally, having designed projects in many countries and obtained important prizes, especially the Pritzker Prize (1992), considered the Nobel of architecture .

PLI.

Lusa / End