Portugese architect Manuel Aires Mateus, who runs his office Aires Mateus in Lisbon, is the winner of the Person Award (literally known as The Pessoa Award in Portugal), announced earlier in March by the President of the jury, Francisco Pinto Balsemão, at the Seteais Palace in Sintra.

"The Pessoa Award is a prize awarded annually to the person of Portuguese nationality who during that period - and following an earlier activity - has been the protagonist of a particularly relevant and innovative intervention in the artistic, literary or scientific life of the country." 

EDP Headquarters in Lisbon designed by Manuel Aires Mateus. Image © Gerardo Santos / Global Imagens

The jury of the "Prémio Pessoa 2017" is composed of Francisco Pinto Balsemão (president), Emídio Rui Vilar (vice president), Ana Pinho, António Barreto, Clara Ferreira Alves, Diogo Lucena, Eduardo Souto de Moura, José Luís Porfírio, Maria Manuel Mota, Maria de Sousa, Pedro Norton, Rui Magalhães Baião, Rui Vieira Nery and Viriato Soromenho-Marques.

The Pessoa Award, which runs in its 31st edition, has a monetary value of 60,000 euros and is an initiative of the newspaper Expresso, with the sponsorship of Caixa Geral de Depósitos.

A meeting centre within the historic housing fabric of Grândola in Portugal, designed by Manuel Aires Mateus. Image © Nelson Garrido

"Its architecture is modern, abstract and contemporary, but part of a collection of Portuguese vernacular forms and materials, which integrates in an exemplary way," said Franscisco Pinto Balsemão.

House in Fontinha by Manuel Aires Mateus + SIA arquitectura in Portugal. Image © Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

Top image courtesy of white in the city

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