Alvaro Siza (* 1933), the best-known contemporary Portuguese architect, is a modernist by conviction yet at the same time firmly rooted in the traditions of his own country. He embarked on his career with the Boa Nova Restaurant (Lega da Palmeira) in 1963. In the following years he carried out several buildings of a wide variety in Portugal. Since 1989 he has been working on the reconstruction of the Chiado quarter in Lisbon. Buildings of more recent date include the Serralves Foundation in Porto (1991-99) and the Portuguese pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hanover.