AIRES MATEUS & ASSOCIADOS

The architects Manuel Aires Mateus (b. Lisbon, 1963) and Francisco Aires Mateus (b. Lisbon, 1964) both studied at the Technical University of Lisbon (FA / UTL), from where they graduated in 1986 and 1987 respectively. Having worked together for several years with the architect Gonçalo Byrne, in 1988 they opened their own Lisbon architecture practice, Aires Mateus e Associados. Both professors at the Mendrisio Academy of Architecture since 2001 and the Autonomous University of Lisbon since 1998, as teachers they have taken part in a large number of design seminars and were visiting professors in 2009 at the Oslo School of Architecture and at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 2002 and 2005. Their commitment to education means that they are frequently invited to take part in conferences and teach in a wide variety of universities worldwide. The work of the Aires Mateus practice ranges from smaller scale work such as family homes – an area which is particularly close to their hearts and one which they are constantly researching- and to the bigger subject of urban infrastructure, via public buildings and equipment. In recent years the work of the practice has featured in several national and international publications, and is part of the international debate on contemporary architecture.