Souto de Moura: Memory, Projects, Works

Casa da Arquitectura – Portuguese Centre for Architecture received, last May 6, the formal deposit ceremony of 40 years of architect Eduardo Souto de Moura’s architectural production in Casa’s archive.

Adding to the 604 models already kept in the institution since 2009, Casa da Arquitectura is now receiving, as a deposit, around 8500 drawings and all textual and photographic documentation that complements the projects produced by the architect during the last 40 years of professional activity. It includes a large selection of drawings, sketches, notebooks, photos taken during his travels and other occasions, along with large photographs of his buildings.

This is a moment of great significance for Portugal and for Casa da Arquitectura as Portuguese Centre for Architecture since this decision ensures the permanence of such an important collection in Portugal.

“Casa da Arquitectura will treat and make known to researchers all over the world and to the public this important collection referring to 40 years of work of one of the most recognized and awarded Portuguese architects,” says Executive Director Nuno Sampaio.

Souto de Moura’s fonds will be partly presented to the public next October within the exhibition Souto de Moura - Memory, Projects, Works curated by Francesco Dal Co and Nuno Graça Moura.

Over six months, from October 2019 to April 2020, this exhibition will offer a unique and unprecedented monographic reading of his work. Covering a time frame of four decades of an impressive career throughout 25 projects and using mainly original pieces, the exhibition Souto de Moura - Memory, Projects, Works aims to present to the public the architectural production of one of the most influential Portuguese architects, winner of Pritzker Architecture Prize 2011.

The exhibition will extend throughout Casa da Arquitectura occupying the Exhibition Hall with almost 1000 square meters and the Casa’s Gallery with 150 square meters.

A vast program of parallel activities complements the exhibition. It includes conferences, concerts and guided tours to some of Souto de Moura buildings.

For the curators, “at a time when part of the architecture world seems to have lost some of its essential meaning, we believe that this exhibition and its catalogue are a unique opportunity to highlight the great relevance of Souto de Moura’s work.”

Eduardo Souto de Moura (b. 1952, Porto) studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Oporto, receiving his degree in 1980. In 1974 he collaborated in the architectural practice of Noé Dinis. From 1975 to 1979, he collaborated in the architectural practice of Álvaro Siza. From 1981 to 1991, he was assistant professor in his alma mater, and later began to serve as professor in the Faculty of Architecture in the University of Oporto.

He has been a visiting professor at the architectural schools of Paris-Belleville, Harvard, Dublin, ETH Zurich, Lausanne and Mantova. He has participated in numerous seminars and given many lectures both in Portugal and abroad. His work has appeared in various publications and exhibitions. In 2011 he received the Pritzker Prize, in 2013 the Wolf Prize and in 2017 the Piranesi Prize. In 2018 Souto de Moura received the award “Leone d’oro” in La Biennale di Venezia.

Casa da Arquitectura - Portuguese Centre for Architecture

Casa da Arquitectura, created in 2007 in Matosinhos, is a non-profit institution focused on researching, archiving, developing content and programming in the context of architecture. It is committed to the dissemination of knowledge and a broader understanding of the discipline within society, in a national and international sphere.

For further information, please contact:

Joana de Belém
T +351 910 651 890 / joana.debelem [​at​] casadaarquitectura.pt