Trinity College in Coimbra Portugal

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.