Trinity College, Coimbra European College, West Portuguese Building Restoration Project, Architecture Images

Trinity College in Coimbra

Renovation of European College in Portugal design by Aires Mateus Architects

12 Jul 2016

Architects: Aires Mateus

Location: Coimbra, western central Portugal

Trinity College Coimbra

Photos: NGPhoto

Trinity College, Coimbra

The project starts with the consideration of heritage and historical values. The architects 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.

Trinity College in Coimbra – Building Information

Client: Universidade de Coimbra
Location: Coimbra, Portugal
Date of project: 2001-13
Date of construction: 2014-16
Surface area: 1910 sqm
Building area: 4093 sqm
Site area: 2300 sqm

Authors: Manuel e Francisco Aires Mateus
Project leader: Susana Rodrigues
Collaborators: 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.