A limited edition box containing three different and innovative views on the work of Pritzker laureate architect Álvaro Siza Vieira

 

Siza Vintage is a limited edition box, measuring 25x35x5cm (approx. 9.8”x13.8”x2”), containing three views on the earlier work of Pritzker laureate architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, through photography, text and illustration.

Fifteen buildings were photographed for this edition and each box includes:

·  Fifteen 20x30cm photos (approx. 7.9”x 11.8”) by Rui Pedro Bordalo;   

·  Fifteen short chronicles by João Forjaz Mendes

·  One serigraphed illustration by Alex Gozblau

Each text and photo set will be carefully and individually packed, as will the serigraphed illustration.

Materials used

The boxes will be produced in Fedrigoni Materica Gesso 360grs cardboard.

The texts will be printed in Fedrigoni Arcoprint 300grs paper;

The photos will be printed in Fedrigoni 250grs photographic semigloss paper;

The illustration will be serigraphed in Fedrigoni Savile Row Plain White 250grs paper;

The individual containers will be made in Fedrigoni Golden Star K Extra White paper.

We care about the environment, so the whole production process is FSC certified, from the paper to the printers...

Who are we?

Rui is a portuguese freelance photographer, whose work has centered on the sociological side of urban space and the transformative power of architecture.

To fund his photographic exploits he's had several jobs, from being a stock manager, to baker, to commercial agent.

João is an architect working mostly on architectural heritage building renovations, including collaborating on a project for a building placed in a UNESCO World Heritage site, while researching the relationship between urban processes and the way we imagine, inhabit and use cities.

Why did we set up this campaign? What do you get out of this?

We both love architecture and passionately believe architectural debate would be much richer if everyone chipped in.

A few months ago we started working on this project, our interest stemming from the lack of debate on architecture, urban spaces and quality of life regarding architectural design open to the general public. Architects still revel on the obscurity of their technical terminology and profit from the lack of accountability on their design options.

The economic situation in Portugal, a country under IMF scrutiny and severe austerity measures also pushed us to pursue the creation of a box that could raise awareness on the quality of portuguese architects, at a time when most offices are working with the bare minimum staff, at least the lucky ones who weren´t forced to close due to lack of work.

Why Siza Vieira, might you ask? Why not start with a lesser known architect? We studied in his buildings, we used his chairs as students, we were children when Chiado burnt down, we used his swimming pools, we saw contemporary art in his museums...we have a deep emotional attachment to his work, albeit a critical and judgmental one.

From that point until inviting Alex Gozblau, an italian born illustrator living in Portugal, to collaborate with us just seemed like the next logical step. His immense body of work has been featured in several newspapers, magazines, movies, books and gallery exhibitions.

We challenged him because of his diametrically opposite graphic style to that of Siza Vieira.

As much as we'd like this idea to go forward, we need money, that's the truth of it.

Even after getting the support of italian fine papers producer Fedrigoni, who liked our idea and the project we presented to them, we need funding to print, build, store and distribute the boxes to retailers.

Is it a lot of money? Yes, but with good reason.

From the get-go we've been following two tenets: the boxes will have to be a very high quality product that conveys our degree of steadfastness, but sold at a price that will not make them accessible only to the wealthy.

The only way to do this is to have a print of 2.500 boxes, to get some economies of scale, but that costs money to start with.

This campaign also serves the purpose of giving a chance to people who live outside of Portugal to buy the boxes at a fraction of the price they would in a retail store near them.

If the projected retail price in Portugal is €50 (approx. $68), in other countries the price would shoot to upwards of €200 (approx. $272) to cover the shipping costs, taxes and the retailer's profit, which usually stands at around 30% of the final price.

We're not only offering the Siza Vintage boxes with a discount, or even the chance to get a signed copy of one of the boxes (and by signed, we mean you’ll get a personal and probably schmaltzy thank you note), we're also giving you the chance of visiting one of the photographed buildings with us, at a date that is convenient to you.

Once there, we will take all the time in the world to explain exactly what the building is, it's design principles and in what way it has shaped our views on architecture, but only as long as you share your thoughts with us. We want you to be a part of this process.

In the end, you’d be helping a small team get off to a great start in a country with a tough economic climate, bringing good architecture into the discussion on how we live and in what ways design can improve your life.

We’re so adamant on the success of this campaign, we won’t get anything if our goal isn’t reached. This is a way for us to commit seriously to a shipping date, and to treat our valued friends with the respect they deserve.

Yes, when you help us you’re no longer a customer, you’re a friend.

Will you make a difference?

Yes! A resounding, no-doubt-about-it, one hundred percent surefire yes.

Even if you can’t contribute with any money, the simple act of sharing our project with your friends means a great deal to us.

We’ve always imagined Siza Vintage to be the start of a project that would divulge the tremendous amount of artistic talent Portugal has to offer, from illustrators to architects to photographers and writers, but we have to take baby steps, and get a sure footing before thinking ahead.

Just remember that each contribution you make will be employed into creating a sustainable, profitable and collaborative platform that ensures the discussion on architecture remains on the public eye.

Payment and postage options

This campaign will accept payments through credit card or Paypal.

If you buy a perk that includes a Siza Vintage box, please remember to add €4,10 (if you live in Portugal) or €7 (if you live somewhere else in the World) to your payment to cover the packaging and shipping costs.

If you buy one of the three box packs, you'll have to add €9 (if you live in Portugal) or €16 (if you live somewhere else in the World) to your payment to cover the packaging and shipping costs.