Donation of Souto de Moura’s Archive to the Casa da Arquitectura

DATE

14.10.2026

Renowned Portuguese architect and Pritzker Prize winner Eduardo Souto de Moura has formalized the definitive donation of his professional archive to the Casa da Arquitectura in Matosinhos, turning his valuable legacy into permanent institutional heritage.

This landmark agreement transforms the loan agreement established in May 2019 into a full and permanent handover. The official signing of the protocol, held in October 2026, consolidates the Casa da Arquitectura as the central hub for the preservation, study, and dissemination of the 2011 Pritzker laureate’s work, ensuring that his career remains accessible to future generations of researchers.

The donated collection is of exceptional richness, spanning over 40 years of uninterrupted professional work between 1980 and 2026. In total, the archive comprehensively documents more than 900 projects by the Portuguese master, including key landmarks of contemporary architecture such as the Braga Municipal Stadium, the Porto Metro network, and the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego in Cascais.

Physically, the archive consists of an immense volume of material reflecting his meticulous design process. Highlights among the cataloged items include nearly 8,500 drawings and sketches, approximately 22,000 analog photographs, 975 3D models, and 188 personal notebooks, as well as 650 files containing textual documentation, correspondence, and exhibition panels.

The formal signing ceremony was attended by high-level institutional figures and was presided over by the President of the Portuguese Republic, António José Seguro. The head of state, accompanied by representatives of the Municipal Council of Matosinhos, praised the importance of cultural cooperation and patronage in preserving the country’s architectural heritage and projecting its relevance internationally.