Álvaro Siza says he does not expect "nothing good or better" in European architecture with far right

Oporto (Portugal), Apr 11 (EFE) - The rise of the far right is a real threat to people's lives and, consequently, to architecture in Europe, already weakened by lack of investment and excessive regulation, warns Portugal's Álvaro Siza Vieira, winner of the 1992 Pritzker Prize, in an interview with EFE.

"We are seeing a very significant advance of the extreme right in Europe. At some point we will have to hold EU elections with an extreme right in power", the architect predicts in a leisurely tone in one of the rooms of his silent studio, located in the city of Oporto on the banks of the Douro River.

He does not know what the consequences will be for his discipline, although he does not expect "nothing good or anything better" from what is currently happening in architecture, which, in his opinion, "is bad enough".

CAMERA: CARLOTA CIUDAD

FOOTAGE OF THE STUDIO IN OPORTO (PORTUGAL) OF PORTUGUESE ARCHITECT ÁLVARO SIZA VIEIRA, WINNER OF THE 1992 PRITZKER PRIZE.

SOUNDBITES IN PORTUGUESE OF SIZA VIEIRA.

Translation:

1.- "When we see in Europe a very significant advance of the extreme right. At some point we will have to comply with the Community's options with an extreme right in power".

2. "I am not yet familiar with the practices of the extreme right in this respect, but I do not expect anything good or better, even if the present is already bad enough.

3. "Architecture is considered a thing for the rich, that's the prevailing opinion. Architects are seen as capricious, difficult to build, and expensive, that's how it's seen".

(talking about what needs to be done to combat the housing crisis)

4. "It is necessary that there are programmes in place to solve a problem that is so much talked about but little practised. And not only architects, project work is currently a team effort".