Chalé João Lúcio & Symbolistic Architecture in Olhão

During the Fin de Siècle, Symbolism was a movement in the visual arts, music and literature that reached its peak between 1880 and 1910. In the first instance mainly in France, but soon afterwards also elsewhere in Europe.

The origin of symbolism can be seen as a reaction to the dominant realism and naturalism in art around 1850. Imagination, fantasy and intuition were central. Symbolism is characterized by a strong desire for the past and a focus on the subconscious, the unusual and the inexplicable.

The symbol was central, and is a sensory signable sign that refers to a gateway to the non-sensory world. The inner, irrational experiences become important, with the emphasis on dream images and death. Forms of powerlessness, laziness and decadence evoke an atmosphere of disaster expectation and threat.

In the architecture several types of symbolism are possible. In the architecture, among other things, cultural and religious (traditional decorated temples), functional, regional, modern, conceptual, etc. symbolism.

Chalé João Lúcio (1916), is a surprising building at Quinta de Marim (Olhão), rising up between the pine trees, the sky and the sea and almost completely enclosed by the camping area. It is one of the largest monuments of "Symbolic Architecture" in Portugal. It is a four-sides oriented building, without a real front or rear facade.

The access stairs facing the four compass directions all have different shapes. The northern staircase is shaped like a fish, the southern staircase is shaped like a guitar, the eastern staircase is shaped like a violin and the western staircase is shaped like a snake. For example, the fish represents water, the guitar represents fire, the violin represents air and the snake represents earth.

The Chalé is currently used as a gallery for photography, painting and sculpture exhibitions and as a space for information and environmental education by Ecoteca.

The creator and inventor of all this is the poet João Lúcio (1880-1918). He studied law in Coimbra, established himself as a lawyer in Olhão and later became deputy and president of the Camerea Municipal of Olhão, where he was involved in education, health care and culture. In addition to his political work, he was above all a poet and an intelligent and eloquent artist. In 1925, the inauguration of the monument of João Lucio; a bronze bust with four pilasters located in the Jardim João Lúcio on the Avenida de República, near Igreja Matriz de Olhão took place.