Francisco Aires Mateus

Francisco Aires Mateus graduated in Architecture at the Technical University of Lisbon in 1987. After collaboration with architect Gonçalo Byrne since 1983, he opened a studio with his brother Manuel Aires Mateus in 1988, establishing what would become a reference point in contemporary Portuguese architecture.

Over the last thirty years, Aires Mateus have gained international recognition for their delicate and respectful contemporary reinterpretation of Portuguese architectural tradition. Their work is characterized by a balance between tradition and innovation, with a continuous exploration of form, light, and void. Iconic works include Casa em Monsaraz, the Faculty of Architecture in Tournai, and the Center for the Arts in Sines.

Francisco has taught at the Accademia di Architectura in Mendrisio since 2001, at the Universidade Autónoma in Lisbon since 1998, and has lectured at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, the Oslo School of Architecture, and universities across multiple continents. His practice's work has been recognized through selection in different editions of the Mies van der Rohe Award and participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale.

In 2017, the practice was honored with the Pessoa Prize, and has received the Valmor Prize, the Secil Prize, the FAD Awards, and the Ecola Prize among numerous national and international accolades.

Career History

• Collaboration with architect Gonçalo Byrne (1983-1988)
• Founding Partner, Aires Mateus studio (1988-present)
• Professor, Universidade Autónoma, Lisbon (1998-present)
• Teacher, Accademia di Architettura, Mendrisio, Switzerland (2001-present)
• Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University (2005)

What Francisco Aires Mateus could bring to Founding Partner at Aires Mateus: As an established founding partner with nearly four decades of practice leadership, Francisco brings internationally recognized expertise in contemporary architectural design emphasizing material refinement, volumetric clarity, and the poetic use of light and void. His extensive teaching experience at elite institutions including Harvard, combined with recognition including the prestigious Pessoa Prize and multiple international awards, positions him to advance the firm's global influence while maintaining its commitment to architectural innovation grounded in Portuguese tradition.