Arquitectura como construção social. Uma leitura do papel do arquiteto ao longo do século XX.

Abstract

This dissertation aims to establish a refection on the values that guide the practice of architecture, values relating to the social and cultural interactions of society where they operate. Integrated in the social and cultural context and inserted in the everyday experiences of people, architecture acquires the responsibility to absorb and transmit social, cultural and political values from where it belongs. Therefore, and given this burden of responsibility, it is wondered how the architect should proceed to transmit values from society, customers, politics and even himself, and which contribution he has in evolution and social restructuring. Based on the twentieth century, it is proposed to register the evolution of the dynamics of social and cultural transformation occurred in architecture, and, consequently, how has the architect and his active role in these transformations adapted over the course of this century. Finally, a parallel with the Portuguese situation will be established, to identify the processes, for instance, how social changes make suitable the importance of a "trademark" or "signature architect" and how the architecture turned into an object of consumption increasingly temporary and short-lived transient time.