More than Buildings: Learning from Portuguese Building Typology (Project Thinking on Design)

More than Buildings studies the buildings typology in Portuguese cities and their relationship with the program (the way in which it responds to a function), the territory where it is integrated and with time and the way in which built forms evolve.

The book is structured around a set of key theoretical texts that highlight the potential of knowledge about typology (and its specific formal characteristics) in the production of new architectural objects. In this sense, the book has a didactic value based on the theoretical synthesis it produces, which allows it to expose certain spatial and formal attributes of the typologies and thus constitute a reference for new processes of architectural production. The method of analysis and decomposition of the case studies presented in each chapter provide a useful reading and interpretation key for different readers. The typology should be understood as a reference in the act of designing, demonstrating how to understand the elementary formal and spatial principles. For the municipal authorities, or other political decision-makers, the book will enable them to interpret the value of typology and its relevance in the production of cities. This data could be useful, for example, in planning actions that aim at preserving or converting urban areas of architectural value.

The book will be relevant to readers within an academic framework and in the professional field engaged in work around architecture, cities, planning, and conservation.

Sérgio Padrão Fernandes is an Architect and an Associate Professor at the Lisbon School of Architecture, and an integrated researcher of CIAUD. He is also a founding member of formaurbis LAB. He was awarded, 2008, with prize of the Portuguese Academy of Fine Arts.

João Silva Leite is an architect with a PhD in Urbanism from the University of Lisbon, with the thesis “Emergent Streets” funded by FCT (2011-2014) and by AUSMIP Plus international program (2015, fellow at University of Tokyo). He is Assistant Professor at Lisbon School of Architecture and member of formaurbis LAB/CIAUD. In 2014 he was awarded in IX BIAU, best master thesis.

Carlos Dias Coelho has a PhD in Urban Planning and is Full Professor in Architecture and Urbanism at the Lisbon School of Architecture, where he funded and coordinates the research group formaurbis LAB and was Dean from 2019 to 2024. He was invited professor at the ESAP-La Villette (Paris), at ETSAB/ UPC (Barcelona), Université Laval (Québec) and he is Fellow of the University of Tokyo.