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U.Porto Memory

University of Porto Famous Alumni

Francisco de Oliveira Ferreira

Francisco de Oliveira Ferreira 1884-1957 Architect

Francisco de Oliveira Ferreira was born at 100-102 Belmonte Street, in Porto, on 25 September 1884. He was the fourth son of Henrique Gomes and Maria da Anunciação de Oliveira Ferreira, who owned a pastry shop. His brothers were António, José and a younger sister, Rita.

Around 1888, the family moved to Candal, in Santa Marinha, Vila Nova de Gaia, but kept the pastry shop running (it was located near the Alfândega, where Francisco would later work).

Two years later, in 1890, the family moved again to Quinta da Beleza, in Choupelo Street, in the same Gaia parish.

At the end of the 19th century, Francisco completed his primary studies at Palhacinhas School and was admitted to the Passos Manuel Industrial School, both in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Between 1901 and 1906, he attended the Civil Architecture course at the Porto Academy of Fine Arts, where he was taught by masters Marques da Silva, José Sardinha, José de Brito and José Teixeira Lopes, among others. According to some of his biographers, he also studied at the École des Beaux Arts, in Paris.

Francisco de Oliveira Ferreira set up his workshop in Porto, at 203 Alexandre Herculano Street. He collaborated with his former teacher, architect José Teixeira Lopes, and (on a regular basis) with his brother sculptor José de Oliveira Ferreira. The two brothers won the contest for the Monument to the Heroes of the Peninsular War to be erected in Lisbon (1909).

He married Leonor Berta Pereira on the day he turned 28.

In 1925, he obtained his Architecture diploma, after nineteen years of professional activity. The reason for this lengthy delay is that Portugal was undergoing several extensive legislation and educational reforms at the time.

In the 30's, he participated in several cultural and civic activities. He was part of the Fundação dos Amigos do Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar [a group formed for the preservation of the Monastery] and was responsible for the first restoration works on the building. He was a member of the Organizing Committee of the Exhibition on Artistic and Scientific Documents and Memoirs of Barão de Forrester, in Serra do Pilar (1930), a member of the Executive and Organizing Committee of the Historical Exhibition of Port Wine, at the Silva Porto Salon (1932), of the Organizing Committee of the Commemorations on the 100th anniversary of Gaia Municipality, and a founding member of the Sociedade da Praia de Vila do Conde.

Between 1935 and 1939, he travelled in Portugal to prepare 60 drawings representing emblematic architectural monuments, with various typologies, a project he called "Preciosidades Nacionais" [National Precious Monuments].

In 1942, grieved by the death of his brother, colleague and dear friend José de Oliveira Ferreira, he moved from Aguda, where he lived, to the House-Workshop in Miramar beach, built in collaboration with his late brother. This was also the place where he died on 30 December 1957.

Francisco de Oliveira Ferreira was a committed professional, always aware of the architecture trends from the middle of the 20th century, particularly Art Nouveau, which he became acquainted with during his trips to Europe. These trends also inspired him to produce innovative and remarkable projects in the north of the country, especially in the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, for example, the Sanatorial Heliantia Clinic (1926-1930).

Ferreira was also an excellent designer, was impelled to study new architecture techniques and materials, and always showed a tremendous interest in Art and Archaeology, to the extent that he attempted the reconstruction of the famous gothic walls of the city of Porto.
(Universidade Digital / Gestão de Informação, 2010)