Inspirational Alvaro Siza Quotes on Architect and Simplicity

The role of the architect is not to impose his vision on the world, but to create a dialogue with it, to listen and respond to its needs and aspirations.

I believe that architecture should be responsive to its context, but also capable of shaping it, of creating a new reality.

Architecture is not about creating a monument or a signature piece, but about creating spaces that people can inhabit and use.

I think that architecture must have a poetic dimension. It is the only way to approach the complex reality of the world we live in.

The ultimate goal of architecture is to create a paradise. Every piece of architecture is like a small paradise.

The relation of a building to its function needs to be much less schematic and formal if you want to produce good architecture.

Architecture is not about form, it is about the space within the form. It is not about the walls, but about the space that the walls create.

The problem of architecture is not only to make it beautiful but to give it a soul.

When you make a building, you make a problem. Then you have to solve it.

Architecture should be a reflection of the values and aspirations of society, a symbol of its culture and identity.

Every child likes to take a pencil to make a mark. Everybody makes beautiful things when they are three, four, or five years old. Most people lose that spontaneity; I think that always happens. Some are able to win a second spontaneity.

The architect must not only be an artist but a technician as well. He must have a thorough knowledge of materials and construction techniques.

Tradition is important when it contains moments of change, when it is not just outward form, and when it also implies an idea of what goes on inside a building, of conflicts, and a potential for innovation. Otherwise, tradition just means being stuck in a rut.

Architects don’t invent anything; they transform reality.

For me, architecture is about finding the right balance between tradition and innovation, between continuity and change.

I believe that architecture should be humble, that it should serve people and their needs, rather than imposing itself on them.

Architecture should be rooted in its context, but it should also transcend it, creating something new and unexpected.

I believe that architecture has the power to transform people’s lives and to create beauty and meaning in the world.

I try to create architecture that is both modern and timeless, that responds to its context and serves its users.

The most important thing is to work with sincerity, to create something that has value and meaning for people.

I believe that architecture is the art of constructing spaces that express a society’s culture and way of life.

Every design is a rigorous attempt to capture a concrete moment of a transitory image in all its nuances. The extent to which this transitory quality is captured is reflected in the designs: the more precise they are, the more vulnerable.

The beauty of architecture lies in its simplicity, in its ability to create something profound from something very basic.

I am a firm believer in praxis, and I don’t have much time for the idea of the loner of genius who does everything all by himself. You need other people as well, at every level.

Tradition is a challenge to innovation.

I believe that architecture should be adaptable, able to change, and evolve with the needs of its users and the world around it.

There is always a conflict and that even increases as I get older. I have to be on my guard not to oversimplify things, but you can hardly deny that architecture is a physical presence.

A good architect works slowly.