Tripod by LIKEarchitecture, Porto 2015

Art that catalyses urban engagement: Tripod - the latest project by Portoguese multidisciplinary studio, LIKEarchitecture - is an example of this that has brightened up and will continue to brighten up the city of Porto.



Tripod is a composition of two important architectural elements - the staircase and the balcony - in a single, dark pink coloured installation. This accessible installation was in plain sight in Largo dos São Domingos from 28 March to 24 April and will be installed in a different colour in Largo da Ruã Cha from 6 to 21 June - both squares in the old town of Porto, Portugal.





The idea of LIKEarchitecture, - the Portuguese studio that has always aimed at setting up interaction between citizens and city (we have featured their projects wonderWALL e playLAND) - is as simple as it is striking: three spiral staircases joined by a landing at the bottom and a balcony at the top. Tempting kids who of course don't hesitate to climb up and down and look out from the balcony at the top...and an invitation to adults too. An opportunity to “see and be seen”, a kind of mini viewing platform or even a small stage. Indeed, events and performances were also linked to the installation.





LIKEarchitecture has positioned this element in the square, where at first it looks out of place, but in actual fact it references the city's vernacular and sets up a kind of focus in the square, drawing people towards it. So, Tripod becomes a catalyser of human relations, of interaction where people actively engage with their city.





Tripod by LIKEarchitecture is a virtuous example of the importance of an art and architecture installation in the urban fabric that brings back joy and play in daily life and gives new perspectives. Because as Professor Keating says in the film, "Dead Poets Society": "Just when you think you know something, you have to look at in another way."

Christiane Bürklein

Architecture: LIKEarchitects (www.likearchitects.com)
Design team: Diogo Aguiar, João Jesus and Daniel Mudrak, João Salgueiro.
Location: Largo de São Domingos, Porto, Portugal | 41.143073 -8.614886
Date: March 2015
Client: Locomotiva - Porto Lazer (http://www.portolazer.pt/)
Type: Commission
Program: Art Installation 
Area: ≈ 2 m²
Main Materials: Steel
Engineering: Rui Nuno Salgueiro
Construction: desafiART (www.desafiart.net)
Performing Arts: Esquiva Companhia de Dança
Photography: José Campos Photography © (www.josecamposphotography.com)