The project starts by understanding the existent heritage as a value in itself. It understands the legacy of the succession of times explicit in the matter. The “eternal”, materialized in stone, in the project”s compressed masses: the great walls and domes, distinguishes itself from the “ephemeral” character of the old structures, historically built in wood. The project unfolds with this reading of the succession of times passed, preserving not a particular period but the value of the “eternal”, also proposing a new “ephemeral”. This ephemeral character is materialized in a steel structure, flooded with light, forming a time in its own, a new contemporaneity open to future change.

Renovation of the Trinity College — European College, Coimbra, Portugal, 2016. Architects Manuel Aires Mateus and Francisco Aires Mateus / Aires Mateus Arquitectos
Foto/photo Nelson Garrido

data sheet

project
Renovation of the Trinity College — European College

location
Coimbra, Portugal

date
2016

areas
building: 4093 m²
site: 2300 m²

architecture
Architects Manuel Aires Mateus and Francisco Aires Mateus (authors); Valentino Capelo Sousa, Patrícia Marques, Mariana Barbosa Mateus, Joana Carmo Simões, Vânia Fernandes, Olga Sanina and Sara Nobre (collaborators) / Aires Mateus Arquitectos

client
University of Coimbra

project leader
Susana Rodrigues

engineering
Betar, GPEC Trofa, Joule, José Galvão Teles

constructor
Veiga Lopes S.A.

photo
Nelson Garrido