Aires Mateus Renovation of the Trinity College

Source: Aires Mateus
Photography: Nelson Garrido

The project starts with the consideration of heritage and historical values. We differentiate between the “eternal” value of the project´s masses: the compression of the great walls and domes, and the “ephemeral” character of the old structures: constructive systems traditionally made of wood. The project was developed following this understanding of passing time, preserving the value of the “eternal” and proposing a new “ephemeral”. A structure made of steel, separate and flooded with light, suggests a new contemporaneity.

Client:
Universidade de Coimbra

Localization:
Coimbra, Portugal

Date of project:
2001-2013

Date of construction:
2014-2016

Surface area:
1910 sqm

Builting area:
4093 sqm

Site area:
2300 sqm

Authors:
Manuel e Francisco Aires Mateus

Project leader:
Susana Rodrigues

Colaborators:
Valentino Capelo Sousa, Patrícia Marques, Mariana Barbosa Mateus, Joana carmo simões, Vânia Fernandes, Olga Sanina, Sara Nobre

Engineer:
BETAR, GPEC Trofa, JOULE, José Galvão Teles

Constructor:
Veiga Lopes S.A.