The SPI Alpalhão granite convinced architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Gray granite was the choice of architects Eduardo Souto Moura and Álvaro Siza Vieira during the urban rehabilitation of the metro station, Avenida dos Aliados, Praça da Liberdade and Aliados in Porto, Portugal.
Although gray granite, that is currently seen throughout the Porto metropolitan area, has various origins, it is the color and uniformity of the natural pattern of the SPI Alpalhão that makes this granite architects favourite.
The uniformity of Alpalhão’s gray granite, strength and fine grain make SPI Alpalhão one of the most coveted natural stones by architects and sculptors.
The gray granite in Metro do Porto
Eduardo Souto de Moura, Priztker awarded architect, author of the Metro do Porto work, reveals a great concern for the physical spaces that surround his projects and has a rigorous use of the chosen materials.
The peculiar subtlety and careful execution of his work result in sustainable, modern and architecturally rich works – such as the Metro do Porto network.
Porto Metro stations are generally spacious, functional and comfortable for the user. The rigor of Souto de Moura’s design simplifies the complexity that an infrastructure such as the metro usually entails.
Stations pavements are in granite and show exceptional homogeneity, which reflects the minimal style characteristic of the architecture Souto de Moura.
The SPI granite in Pedras Salgadas public Pools
Also at the Pedras Salgadas public pools, the architect Siza Vieira opted for the SPI Alpalhão granite to outline the pool borders. The compression and water resistance of this granite is high, as evidenced by the analyses, which makes this material a valuable option.
Nisa Granitic Massif
Alpalhão is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Nisa, in the Alentejo region. The extraction of granite in the municipality of Nisa is old, namely the variety known as SPI.