DATE

14.09.2026

The workshop took place at the Portuguese architect’s Lisbon headquarters. An internationally acclaimed Pessoa Award recipient and key figure in MArch programs—where he recently gave a lecture—Aires Mateus personally directed the sessions, offering participants a privileged glimpse into his creative universe. Throughout the workshop, he openly shared his conceptual approach, spatial perspective, and design methodology, fostering an ongoing debate where learning occurred directly, horizontally, and interactively.

During this week of full immersion, students developed their own proposals while strictly adopting the firm’s signature analysis and design processes. The experience encouraged them to challenge the boundaries between classroom theory and professional practice, striking a balance between poetic instinct and technical rigor. This dynamic of testing, refining, and spatial exploration enabled them to experience architecture as a structured conceptual process.

Coordination was led by architect Cassandra Carvas, whose guidance was key to structuring daily tasks and mentoring student progress. Her continuous support ensured a seamless integration between the firm’s daily routine and the program’s educational goals. Under her direction, students gained insight into the organizational complexity of a top-tier studio, observing how an abstract idea progresses toward formal and constructive resolution.

This workshop proved to be a transformative experience that greatly enriches the students’ academic and professional profiles. Beyond the resulting projects, their time at the Atelier Aires Mateus Workshop allowed them to internalize a way of thinking about and creating architecture rooted in material sensitivity, geometric precision, and respect for site—values that have left an indelible mark on contemporary architecture.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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