Communicating Architecture: Cassandra Carvas’ Perspective at MArch

DATE

18.03.2026

Espai Alfaro recently hosted a key lecture within the MArch program focused on one of the most decisive—and often overlooked—aspects of contemporary architectural practice: how to communicate architecture.

The session was delivered by Portuguese architect Cassandra Carvas, affiliated with the studio of Manuel Aires Mateus, where she also serves as coordinator of the Aires Mateus Workshop offered by MArch, and co-founder of the practice Carvasmachado. Her lecture brought together students from different programs, creating a space for reflection on how to construct an architectural narrative through the portfolio.

Rather than understanding the portfolio as a mere compilation of projects, Carvas framed it as a narrative tool. A device capable of articulating a coherent professional identity, where each project responds to a clear intention and forms part of a broader story. In this sense, selection becomes a critical exercise: it is not about showing everything, but about understanding what to communicate and why.

During the lecture, key aspects were addressed, including content organization, visual hierarchy, and the importance of supporting each project with a precise narrative. Clarity and conciseness were highlighted as fundamental values, always reinforced by the use of high-quality images, rigorous descriptions, and, when appropriate, physical models or renders that enhance the understanding of the project. Another central topic was the ability to adapt the portfolio. Carvas emphasized the importance of understanding the audience: presenting work to an architectural studio, a potential client, or through digital platforms requires different approaches, specific selections, and tailored ways of constructing the narrative.

The session also explored current trends in portfolio design and the technological tools available today, highlighting how these can enhance presentations without replacing what is essential: clarity of ideas and coherence of work. Beyond the technical aspects, the lecture conveyed a fundamental idea: communicating architecture is not a subsequent step in the process, but an intrinsic part of it. Building the narrative ultimately means knowing how to design. With this lecture, Cassandra Carvas provided students not only with practical tools, but also with a way of understanding their own work through intention, synthesis, and precision—an approach that resonates with the current challenges of the discipline and the need to construct strong narratives in an increasingly visual and competitive environment.