Eduardo Souto de Moura, Gerês, Porto, Portugal, 1980-1982
OfHouses presents “Pritzkers’ First Houses”: We have already published Toyo Ito’s (Pritzker 2013) first house ( check here the ‘Aluminium House’) and, given the fact that Wang Shu’s (Pritzker 2012) ‘San-He House’ from 2004 is too recent to be featured in our collection, we skip directly to the ‘Reconversion of a ruin in Gerês’ – the first residential project designed by the then 28 years old Eduardo Souto de Moura (Pritzker 2011). This house, inserted within the walls of a ruined farmhouse, was never finished and has turned itself into a ruin. The asphalting of the adjoining road has raised its level, almost blocking the window to the street. Apart of that, no other alterations were made to the original project. The space, now used as a garden shed, still awaits his flooring and cabinetry. However, Souto de Moura remains very fond of his first residential project. After more than 30 years the little house was caught again on camera in Thom Andersen’s art film “Reconversão“, a documentary dedicated to Souto de Moura’s works. (Photos: © Manuel Magalhaes , Thom Andersen. Source: “Reconversion / Reconversão” (Agência da Curta Metragem, 2012), dir. by Thom Andersen; Current Architecture Catalogues – Eduardo Souto de Moura (Barcelona: G. Gilli, 1990), pp 16-17.)
