PTEN
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The cultural rentrée brings to the Palace the inaugural round of the Conversas et al. A monthly programme inviting young architectural professionals with an insatiable curiosity and a tenacious spirit to join the discussion on new architectural practices. Each bring a close guest to enliven the dialogue with the public in an intimate format, without introductions or moderation.
While working on our projects, it's essential to build models, which we modify as we progress. Typical questions of composition and proportion can be thoroughly explored through these objects. In them, we discover a precise and valuable ally—cutting out a wall implies a certain violence, while glueing it suggests a compromise. Amid opportunities that fail to materialise, competitions lost, and projects that don't move forward, much of the work done is no more tangible than the models where they persist in some form. The model thus finds a reason to exist—the genuine promise of the reality that will never come to fruition.
Three blue wooden benches, a brushed stainless steel table, and some Azorean cheese bread: this scenography characterises the brand new Bar Cascavel, a project bringing together this architecture studio and chef to bridge their practices. Their dialogue stems from a respect for the regional cultural context, a concern for the matter at hand, an exploration of contemporary social dynamics, solutions closely linked to local environments, the construction of a clear history and identity, and a reflection on Lisbon's future.
Menu: Phyllo dough purses, Cous'otto e Cheesecake.
Based on two photographies and a small light switch, the talk addresses issues associated with architectural practice, particularly those related to image's role. In a way, images summarise the dilemma of the briefing: they represent (or are produced from) material culture, they produce immaterial culture. They record, autonomise and become objects of desire in their own right. Frederico Martinho, through his photography, has accompanied us in this research.
Menu: Miso soup, Sautéed bimis and carrots, CauliHaven and Chocolate lava cake.
The instruments brought up for dialogue – a hand mallet for rammed earth, a poured earth cube, books, catalogues and material samples – reflect on the disruption of intergenerational know-how transmission due to the lack and de-skilling of the workforce. On the other hand, the interest in traditional materials leads to research into new forms of implementation as a future solution in response to the social and climate crisis.
Menu: Summer Onigiris, Halloumi and Fig Salad, Spring Roll and Raw Cake.