Francisco Aires Mateus: Architecture as Research, Not Icon-Making

In the latest installment of the video interview series 'Past, Present, Future: about being an architect yesterday, today, and beyond' curated by Itinerant Office, Portuguese architect Francisco Aires Mateus shares his philosophy. He founded his studio in Lisbon in 1988 with his brother Manuel, later splitting into independent practices. After studying at a major Lisbon art school, he worked at Gonçalo Byrne's office, where he learned that extreme attention to detail in a place means extreme attention to its occupants. Now leading a deliberately small firm focused on residential projects for private clients, he likens architecture to research: 'It's like being in a chemical company, you must always be prepared for error, go back, let everything go and admit you were wrong.' He warns against the 'fast and furious' era's obsession with iconic monuments, urging patience over quick solutions. In Italy, he is working pro bono on a small chapel on Lake Como, which he considers a manifesto of his approach. He encourages emerging generations to practice patience and 'give the world ideas.' The full interview is available at www.pastpresentfutureproject.com.