ABOUT US

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DETAIL…

in architecture… in life.

If detail didn’t exist, we wouldn’t exist.
Is in the detail that there is the Total and the essence.
If there wasn’t for the detail, the space wouldn’t exist as well as its control or creation.
The absence of detail is the rough, the amorphous, that is now called concept.
It is nothing but an overshadow and empty idea … without the definition that detail will provide it with.
The detail is the definition of the Total and it is in direct line.
The Total changes from the intention to the execution and to possible realization.
When there is no detail, others will do it for us and the Total stops being it.
It transforms itself into something different. It stops being ours and becomes theirs. Comes back to the amorphous.
Detail is hard-working. It becomes disturbing and the reason of many disagreements.
We are also the consequence of many and different details.
Within the Total we are unique, with our own personality and, above all, the character of the concept.
The absence of detail – or its execution – is to delegate in others the conclusion of the idea, of the concept.
As if the authorship could be the property of someone else that didn’t make part of the Total.
What would become of food without the salt … a simple detail, but …
What would become of Life without Art … a simple detail, but…
God is in details… someone said. Someone else also said that Detail is not God. But it is always omnipresent.

CARLOS CASTANHEIRA

Lisbon, June 1957.
Graduated in Architecture by the School of Fine Arts of Oporto (1976-1981).
Lived in Amsterdam, from 1981 to 1990, where he worked as an Architect and studied at the Academie Voor Bouwkunst Van Amsterdam.
In 1993 he founded the practice Carlos Castanheira & Clara Bastai, Arquitectos, Lda. with the Architect Maria Clara Bastai.
Working, mainly, in the private sector, he has acted as juror on competition panels, participated in conferences, has been involved in setting up Architectural education courses and workshops, has curated and organized exhibitions, and has edited and published books and catalogues.
Since he was a student he has been collaborating with the Architect Álvaro Siza in various projects in Portugal but, mostly, abroad.

THE STUDIO

Awards:

2005 – National Prize for Architecture in Timber (PNAM), promoted by AIMMP with the project Avenal House, Ul, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal.

2011 – National Prize for Architecture in Timber (PNAM), promoted by AFN/MA with the project Adpropeixe House, Terras de Bouro, Gerês, Portugal.

2011 – Honorable Mention in National Prize for Architecture in Timber (PNAM), promoted by AFN/MA with the project Casa da Torre – Winery, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga, Portugal.

2015 – Winner, with Architect Álvaro Siza, of the International Platform Archdaily Awards – Office Building of the Year 2015 – with the project The Building on the Water, Huai’an Jiangsu, China.

2015 – Best of Wine Tourism Award – Regional winner in category of Architecture and Landscape with the project Quinta da Faísca – Winery, Favaios, Alijó, Portugal.

2015 – Honorable Mention in National Prize for Architecture in Timber (PNAM), promoted by AFN/MA with the project Equestrian Centre, Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, Portugal.

2016 – Selected, with Álvaro Siza, for the Archmarathon Awards – Milan, with the project The Building on the Water, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China.

2016 – One of the seven finalist projects in the International Platform Archdaily, in the category Sport Building, with the project Equestrian Centre, Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, Portugal.

2017 – Valmor and Municipal Architecture Prize, from Lisbon City Council, with Architect Álvaro Siza, with the project Chiado Public Space – Carmo Connection, Lisboa, concerning the best project of the year 2015.

2020 – Real Estate Prize – Expresso and SIC Notícias in the category of Construction and Sustainable Architecture and Honorable Mention with the project Treetop Walk Serralves, Porto, Portugal.

2021 – Awarded, with Álvaro Siza, by the International Platform Archdaily – Cultural Architecture Building of the year 2021 with the project MoAE – Huamao Museum of Art Education, Dongqian Lake, Ningbo, China.

2021 – Awarded, with Álvaro Siza, Jury Prize of the Taiwan Architecture Award with the project Taifong Golf Club, Changhua County, Taipei, Taiwan.

2021 – Award of Excellence by the Yuanye Awards – China, Beijing with the project Taboadella – Winery, Satão, Viseu, Portugal.

2021 – Distinguished, with Álvaro Siza, by the International Platform Archilovers – Best Project of 2021 with the project Saya Park / Sayuwon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea.

2022 – Distinguished by the International Platform Archilovers – Best Project of 2022 with the project Quinta da Faísca – Tourist Accommodation, Favaios, Alijó, Portugal.

2023 – Awarded, with Álvaro Siza, Salian City for Humanity Awards 2023 – Architectural Contribution Award with the project MoAE – Huamao Museum of Art Education, Dongqian Lake, Ningbo, China.

2024 – Distinguished with the Designverse Award – 2023-2024, in the Design Work category with the project Quinta da Faísca – Tourist Accommodation, Alijó, Portugal.

2024 – Distinguished with the Designverse Award – 2023-2024, in the Design Work category with the projects Dongqian Lake Club Houses, Dongqian Lake, Ningbo, China and Taifong Golf Club – Tea House, Changhua County, Taipei, Taiwan.

2024 – Honorable Mention in Prémio Arquitectura do Douro 2024 with the project Quinta da Faísca – Tourist Accommodation, Favaios, Alijó, Portugal.

2025 – Distinguished, with Álvaro Siza, Special Honor Prize, Designverse Awards 2024-2025 in the Space category with the projects Dongqian Lake Club Houses, Dongqian Lake, Ningbo, China and Taifong Golf Club – Tea House, Changhua County, Taipei, Taiwan.