PRESENT SIMPLE chair by YOXIMOVIC designo studio Present simple is a simple chair. It is used for sitting which happens regularly, every day, from time to time, always, sometimes. It is used for sitting when sitting is talked about. You can sit on it in the past or in the future. You cannot sit now because you haven't got time. The present simple adds the s to the third person but a third person can sit comfortably without the addition.

+ Designer: YOXIMOVIC designo studio

Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira has completed the Volunteer Firefighters Barracks of Santo Tirso. The Firefighters barracks matches the CB1 Type program and is located in Quinta de Geão, at the lot 28, of 4770 m2.

The building comprises a total gross area of 1173 m2 and lodges the support functions to the fire brigade. Starting from the "Lobby – Access", it is organized in 3 floors.

It develops exclusively at the ground floor level in the continuity of the sector A, with its own access from the corner of the B and C streets, houses the tasks of the associative sector and comprises a total gross area of 145 m2:

- Lobby – common to the sector A
- Reception and board secretariat
- Board room
- Full accessibility sanitary

Between sectors A and B there is a circulation space, open onto a courtyard, communicating with all building functions.

In the terrain remaining space, between the building and the EN 104, lies the Operational Parade, of 914 m2, with access from the C street and directly from the car park.

Next to the Operational Parade is located the Home-School (CE) and the workshop and washing (OL).

The Honor Parade is located next to the building main façade from the C Street. Regarding the landscaping project and exterior arrangements, the proposal envisages the establishment of paved green areas that will serve as a framework and support space. The paved areas, excluding the car accesses and the terrace area outside the Bar, are coated with stone trimmed asphalt concrete.

The green areas will be targeted for the existing vegetation reinforcement in the slope areas, proceeding to the replacement work of degraded species. Occasionally some trees will be brought, fed by an automatic irrigation system and flagged by boilers in the paved areas.

+ Project facts

Fire Station in Portugal
Architecture: Arq. Álvaro Siza Vieira
Project coordinator: Arq. José Carlos Nunes de Oliveira
Collaborators: Arq. Marco Rampulla, Arq. Pablo Elinbaum, Arq. Patrícia Teixeira, Arq. José Pedro Silva
Structure project: Eng.o Jorge Nunes da Silva, Eng.a Raquel Dias
Electricity and security project: Eng.o Alexandre Martins
HVAC project: Eng.o Raul Bessa
Water and Sanitation project: Eng.o Raquel Fernandes
Client: Associação Humanitária Bombeiros Voluntários de Santo Tirso
Contractor: EMPRIPAR, Obras Pública e Privadas S.A.
Photography: Joao Morgado – Architecture Photographer (www.joaomorgado.com)

+ All images and drawings courtesy Álvaro Siza Vieira | photo by Joao Morgado