Maria José Marques da Silva facts for kids
Maria José Marques da Silva (1914-1996) was a talented architect from Portugal. She was born in the city of Porto, where she designed many buildings. Her father was also a famous architect. In 1943, Maria José made history. She became the first woman to graduate as an architect from the Porto School of Fine Arts.
Her Life and Work
Maria José started her career working with her father, José Marques da Silva. He was a very successful architect in Porto. In 1943, she married another architect named David Moreira da Silva.
Together, Maria José and David started their own architecture business. They designed many buildings. They also helped plan the city's growth. They even finished some projects that her father had started.
Their main designs in Porto include:
- The Palácio do Comércio (built in 1946)
- The Trabalho e Reforma building (built in 1953)
- The Torre Miradouro (built in 1969)
They also designed several churches.
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In the 1970s, Maria José and her husband moved to Barcelos and started farming. Even then, Maria José stayed involved in architecture. She helped manage the Association of Portuguese Architects. She even organized their 40th meeting in 1986.
Later in her life, she worked hard to honor her father's work. For example, she helped complete the Monument to the Heroes of the Peninsular War. This monument is also known as the Boavista Monument in Porto. Her father designed it in 1909. Its completion was delayed by two World Wars. It was finally finished in 1951 and shown to the public in 1952.
Maria José and her husband also helped finish other projects by her father. These included:
- A new building for the Sociedade Martins Sarmento
- The municipal market
- The Penha Sanctuary
- São Torcato Church (all in Guimarães)
- A building in Rua Barjona de Freitas, Barcelos
Maria José Marques da Silva passed away in Porto on May 13, 1994. In her will, she left money for the University of Porto. This money helped create the José Marques da Silva Institute.
Her Lasting Impact
In 1996, the University of Porto officially started the Architect José Marques da Silva Institute. In 2009, this institute became a private foundation. It is now called the Architect José Marques da Silva Foundation Institute (FIMS).
The main goal of FIMS is to share the scientific, cultural, and artistic work of José Marques da Silva. It also looks at how his work fits into modern culture. The Foundation is located in the architect's old home and studio. It also uses a building next to the Lopes Martins family mansion.
FIMS keeps many important collections. These include the writings, art, and architectural plans of Maria José Marques da Silva and David Moreira da Silva. The Foundation works to protect and share this information. It also welcomes other historical or artistic items. These items are usually related to architecture and city planning in Porto and Portugal. Many other architects have given their collections to FIMS over the years.
See also
In Spanish: Maria José Marques da Silva para niños
