Studio
We are an architecture practice that gives shape to a contemporary world through the design of buildings spaces, objects, urban and landscape environments.
We believe that architecture comes from the synthesis of human needs of shelter, of combining the many requests on our daily lives and their constant change, and last but not least, of lifting the spirits. We work creatively from the start of a project in a combination of knowledges to deliver full scope of integrated and sustainable design solutions, shaping future.
João Carmo Simões
João grew up in Cascais and after completing his master's degree in architecture at Da/UAL, Lisbon, he receives the National Secil Universities Award 2010.
Believing that the quality of the environment that surrounds us directly affects the quality of our lives, and driven by his passion for innovation and excellence, in 2012, he founded his studio in Lisbon. Among his projects are Villa Sombra in Alentejo, Turismo Rural Quinta de Lazarim in Douro, Villa Plié in Cascais, Janela para o Céu in the renowed chapel Capela do Rato in Lisbon, Casa Azul in Costa Nova, Apartamento Corpo Santo in Baixa Pombalina, Apartamento Lima in Cascais, Casa Photomaton in Oeiras and the project of requalification and expansion of the school complex of Colégio Infante D. Henrique, in Funchal.
His works were highlighted in Monocle magazine issue , in the book Portuguese Modern Apartments, and on design websites. He is regularly invited to present his work at several universities.
Pursuing his thirst for knowledge, he worked with renowned architects such as Álvaro Siza, in Porto, or Paulo Mendes da Rocha, in São Paulo, editing books about their works and thought. His publications include: Civitas São Paulo, a journey through an idea of architecture in the city of São Paulo, through key works by architects such as Vilanova Artigas, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Lina Bo Bardi or Oscar Niemeyer, distinguished for shortlist of the DAM - Deutsches ArchitekturMuseum Architectural Book Award for best architecture book of 2019; Designed Future / Paulo Mendes da Rocha the most complete anthology of texts by this architect; or the English edition Imagining The Evident / Álvaro Siza, distinguished as one of the best books of 2022 by Domus magazine .
He is founder of the publisher Monade books with a global reach, promoting excellence in architecture thinking and research. He was a member of the Portuguese Council of Architects, National Admissions Council and currently of the Board of General Assembly.
João is skipper, enjoys sailing and photography.
Core Team
João Carmo Simões, Founding Director, Architect MArch
Daniela Sá, Partner, Architect PhD Arch
Maria Prates, Architect MArch
Joana Orêncio, Architect MArch
Marie Tassan-Din, Trainee, Ch
Pierre-Loup Zehnder, Trainee, Ch
External Consultants Team
João Gomes da Silva, Landscape Architect
Global - Arquitectura Paisagista
António Adão da Fonseca, Structural and Bridge Engineer
Adão da Fonseca - Engenheiros Consultores
Raul Bessa, Mechanical and HVAC Engineer
GET - Gestão de Energia Térmica
Rui Ribeiro, Acoustical Engineer
Amplitude Acoustics
Marta Azevedo, Hydraulic Engineer
Previous Collaborators
Marta Tornelli, Architect MArch
Madalena Roque, Trainee
Vega Solaz Soler, Architect MArch
Marta Onofre, Architect March
Olaya Mourenza Flórez, Architect March
Contacts
RUA RODRIGUES SAMPAIO, 19, 5ºB
1150-278 LISBOA, PORTUGAL
T. (+351) 210 992 319
General enquiries: mail@joaocarmosimoes.com
Job enquiries: work@joaocarmosimoes.com
Press enquiries: press@joaocarmosimoes.com
Keep in touch!
Follow us on Instagram
Inprint
Design João Carmo Simões
© 2023 All rights reserved. No part of this website may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission from the copyright holder.
Awards
Deutsches Architekturmuseum, nomination for the best book of the year
Publications on Our Work
Monocle 154
Magazine — About Casa Azul / London, 2022
Revista Património
Magazine — About Janela para o Céu / Lisboa, 2019
Portuguese Modern Apartments
Book — About Lima Apartment / Uzina, Lisbon, 2015
Publications
Civitas São Paulo João Carmo Simões
Book — Author and photographer / Monade Books, Lisbon, 2018
Folha de São Paulo
Newspaper — about 50th anniversary of MASP - Museum of Art São Paulo, 2018
Álvaro Siza / Museu Nadir Afonso
Book — Author and Editor / Monade Books, Lisbon, 2016
Lectures and Talks
Workshop team Coordinator at Da_UAL Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 2019
Talk at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2019
Talk at Da_UAL, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 2019
Talk at Lisbon Architecture Triennale, 2019
Open Classroom X Ar.Co – Arts and Visual Communication Center, 2019
CIVITAS / São Paulo
with Inês Lobo, Ana Vaz Milheiro, Daniela Sá
Talk at Kaffeehaus, Chiado, Lisbon, 2018
CIVITAS / São Paulo
with Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Guilherme Wisnik, Daniela Sá
Talk at ITAÚ Cultural, São Paulo, 2018
Inauguration of the project Janela para o Céu
with José Tolentino Mendonça, Luísa Soares de Oliveira
Talk at Capela do Rato, 2018
POROSIS / The Architecture of Nuno Brandão Costa
with Mark Lee, Sharon Johnston and Nuno Brandão Costa
Talk at Chicago Architecture Biennial, 2017
Álvaro Siza / Museu Nadir Afonso
with Guilherme Wisnik, Daniela Sá
Talk at Livraria Cultura, São Paulo, 2017
Paulo Mendes da Rocha / Museu Nacional dos Coches
with Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Fernando Viegas, Daniela Sá
Talk at Escola de Cidade, São Paulo, 2017
Relação – Conferência Pontapé
Lecture at Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade do Porto (FAUP), 2016
Viagem: Processos de Construção do Olhar
Lecture at Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade do Porto (FAUP), 2014
Prática versus Ensino
Lecture at Da/UAL Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 2013