IJUP08 - Universidade do Porto

Architecture and climate. Site geography: Luanda and the work of
Vasco Vieira da Costa
M. Quintã 1 , J. Quintão 2
1 Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, Portugal
2 Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, Portugal
The present abstract refers to a Final Thesis for the Degree in Architecture of FAUP, which
intended to perform a study of architect Vasco Vieira da Costa’s work. The journey to
Luanda allowed to recognize the climate adaptation as a main principle in the work of this
architect inducing, this way, a first investigation about the climate components.
The first chapter intends, precisely, to prepare the investigation of the study case,
specifying gradually the subject of the thesis, and that’s why it firstly broaches in a wide
way the eternal confrontation between architecture and site, and then act particularly in the
architectural intervention on tropical climates.
After this first introduction, and also after the acknowledgment of the climate data of
Luanda, the observation of the works focus particularly on their climate adaptation, using,
above all, the information gathered during the journey. This way, a special attention is paid
to the precisely orientation of the buildings in order to evaluate the importance of the
shading and ventilation mechanisms used according to the sun and the main winds
behaviour. It was intended to evaluate the configuration and dimensions of the
architectural elements, inquiring their functional or poetic purpose.
It was repeatedly observed that the use of correspondence between the climatic conditions
of Luanda and the buildings of Vieira da Costa was constant along the architect’s work. To
each project, Vieira da Costa used his principles; only facing a specific circumstance each
solution was developed as a result of the program and the particular position in the
territory.
The unique person of Le Corbusier was decisive in the education period of Vieira da Costa,
and his influence in the Angolan architect’s work will always be distinctive and permanent.
And yet, the rational forms present in his works are not indifferent to the city where they
are settled. Furthermore, relationships of continuity between the buildings of Vieira da
Costa and the urban context are frequently established. Although the architect has defined
the “solução de compromisso” [1] as the ideal setting - the half way between the ideal
orientation to the sun and to the main winds - Vieira da Costa usually uses the city as a
starting point.
[1] Vieira da Costa, V. (1969), Breves Considerações sobre Urbanismo Tropical em Zonas Rurais,
in “Segundas Jornadas de Engenharia e Arquitectura do Ultramar”, Comunicações, vol.4, Luanda
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