The awarding of the 2026 Gold Medal of the International Union of Architects to Eduardo Souto de Moura once again recognises the coherence and rare capacity to withstand time of his major body of work. It honours an exceptional architect and confirms what is increasingly being recognised worldwide: Portuguese architecture occupies an unquestionable place in contemporary architectural culture.
We have a collective trajectory, shaped by generations of architects, schools, studios and institutions that have consolidated a demanding disciplinary culture, one that is not defined by a single style or a stereotyped image. Its strength lies in the remarkable work capacity of architects, in a very high professional ethic, and in a creative output grounded in the ability to interpret place, reconcile permanence and transformation, and respond intelligently to diverse social, economic and territorial realities.
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This is an article by Avelino Oliveira, President of the Portuguese Association of Architects, published in the July/August edition of Portugalglobal, AICEP’s online magazine.
