Álvaro Joaquim Melo Siza Vieira was born in Matosinhos, in 1933. From 1949-55 he studied at the School of Architecture, University of Porto. From 1955-58 he was collaborator of Arch. Fernando Távora. He taught at the School of Architecture (ESBAP) from l966-69 and was appointed Professor of "Construction" in 1976. He has been a Visiting Professor at the Ecole Polythéchnique of Lausanne, the University of Pennsylvania, Los Andes University of Bogotá and the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University; From 1949-55 he studied at the School of Architecture, University of Porto. He works in Porto city.
He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science, "Honorary Fellow" of the Royal Institute of British Architects, AIA/American Institute of Architects, Académie d'Architecture de France and European Academy of Sciences and Arts.