João Luís Carrilho da Graça, architect, graduated from "Escola Superior de Belas Artes de Lisboa" in 1977, the year he initiated his professional practice.
He lectured at the School of Architecture of the Technical University of Lisbon between 1977 and 1992, and was a professor at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa from 2001 to 2010 and at the Universidade de Évora since 2005. João Luís Carrilho da Graça headed the Architecture Department at both institutions until 2010. He was also guest lecturer at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Navarra in 2005, 2007 and 2010, and was invited to lecture in seminars and conferences at several international universities and institutions.
He has been recognized with several distintions, including: the title of “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Republic in 2010; the “Prémio Pessoa” in 2008, the “Luzboa” Award in 2004 at Lisbon’s first International Light Art Biennale, the “Order of Merit” by the Portuguese Republic in 1999 and the “AICA Award” by the International Association of Art Critics in 1992.
He was further distinguished with the “AIT award 2012 - transportation” for the Pedestrian Bridge over the Carpinteira Stream, the “Piranesi Prix de Rome” prize in 2010 for the Musealisation of the “Praça Nova” Archeological Site at “Castelo de São Jorge”, the “valmor” prize for the lisbon school of music in 2008, the “FAD” Prize in 1999 and the “Valmor” Prize in 1998 for the Knowledge of the Seas Pavilion at Lisbon Expo ’98; the “Secil” Prize in 1994 for the Higher School of Social Communication (Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa). Was selected (s) and nominated (n) for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture — Mies van der Rohe Award in 1990 for the Regional Social Security Center (s), 1992 for the Municipal Swimming Pool of Campo Maior (s), 1994 for the Higher School of Social Communication en Lisbon (s), 2009 for the School of Music in Lisbon (s) and the Theatre and Auditorium of Poitiers (n), and 2011, for the Pedestrian Bridge over the Carpinteira Stream (s) and the Musealisation of the “Praça Nova” Archeological Site at “Castelo de São Jorge” (n).
In 2010, the project Candeias’ House was part of the Portuguese official representation, “No Place Like - 4 houses 4 films”, at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia “People Meet in Architecture”, and in 2012 the project for Lisbon’s Cruise Terminal is included in “Lisbon Ground”, the official representation to the 13th Biennale “Common Ground”.
