João Cabrita

His practice is based in the Algarve, where his architecture is exemplified by the splendour of magnificent houses and luxury resorts. Pencils, pens and drawing boards have always marked the life of architect João Cabrita. He found himself creating drawings on blank paper from an early age. And time taught him to see architecture with an enthusiastic eye. And he began to tell a story with every project he undertook. Is he a good storyteller? We would say so. Proof of this can be seen in the countless architectural projects developed in Portugal bearing his stamp. Inspired by a touch of «magic», he has always striven to create striking works. In this interview, João refers to the technological advances of the last 30 years and the impact that Artificial Intelligence will have in the coming decades. He also talks about the process of «cooling» in the sector, due to the overvaluation of property, rising inflation and interest rates. And what gives him real pleasure in architecture? Easy, «the smile of a happy client».   

How did your childhood and the place where you were born and grew up influence you to follow the path of architecture?
I’ve always lived amid drawings, carbon copies, pencils, pens and drawers. I learnt to live with this reality at home and in the office. Architecture was, in my childhood, a name that translated as «drawing houses» and it was only later that I learnt its true meaning. More than just a practice, it also became a way of being in life, which has shaped me into who I am today. 

Are the references you had as a student the same as today, or in other words, has your way of looking at architecture changed over time?
Learning architecture is much more than learning how to design buildings and transform space. And the way you see it changes over time. When I was an architecture student, the Modernist and Post-Modernist movements were some of the most favoured reference models for us students, but the start of my working life and my encounter with more traditional and Vitruvian architecture somehow came to complement a different way of looking at architectural language. Time changes everything and in the same way it changes the way we approach architecture.

Do you see the Algarve and Quinta do Lago, the place where you have your firm, as something that characterises the way you do architecture?
The Algarve in general and Quinta do Lago in particular have very special conditions for the practice of architecture. Firstly because of the seaside location, its huge tourist attraction and the way national and foreign investors see this patch of national territory. On the other hand, there has also been a gradual increase in the quality of tourism over the last 50 years, which has led to more and more investors with expectations of outstanding investments, particularly in the Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura areas. It goes without saying that, over time, we have adjusted to this reality and, as a result, to the way we qualify the architecture we produce. 

Over the years, what has been the most challenging project you’ve done?
There have been many, and I wouldn’t want to single one out! In reality, when we produce something from a piece of blank paper, there is always a story to tell and each project has a narrative. At the end of the day, the architect becomes a storyteller who always strives to achieve the best possible result for his client.


«I am sure that the future will be one of total sustainability»

Is sustainability also a concern at JCA? Do you feel that the clients also have this concern or is it at the suggestion of the atelier?
Sustainability should be everyone’s concern. We endeavour to make our clients aware of the inevitable «ecological footprint» and, in this respect, the responsibility to implement solutions in projects that are as sustainable as possible. Advances in technology have contributed positively to some of the solutions adopted and I am sure that the future will be one of total sustainability. For the sake of future generations. 

If you were able to define the moment architecture is going through, what would you define it as?
Like humanity, architecture is going through a process of adaptation and transformation. If, on the one hand, we’re talking about so-called «luxury» construction, on the other we’re facing a very serious challenge in terms of housing, a right enshrined in our constitution no less. Construction will have to adapt to new challenges, both financial and technological, and the language of architecture will have to adjust to these challenges, with new forms and organisation of spaces. 

What do you really enjoy about being an architect?
The smile of a happy client. 

How would you assess the country’s current property market? In general terms and particularly in terms of luxury.
The market is buoyant and we are going through the problems listed in the previous question. I imagine that the «luxury» sector may also have to adapt to this situation, although the Algarve continues and will continue to offer the attractive qualities that investors are looking for. The room for growth will depend on stable investment policies and the ability of our political leaders to recognise this attracting of national and, above all, foreign investment as one of the driving forces behind our economy.  

What does the country still need to grasp in this specific area of refinement?
I might say that refinement is the eternal search for perfect balance, and this is the one place that doesn’t exist! The ultimate exponent of refinement will be when the user of the architectural space achieves maximum symbiosis with the space itself in the combination and balance of forms, textures, colours, smells, etc. that can contribute to the user’s happiness. The perception of refinement is perhaps a mental, emotional and spiritual issue and, in this regard, seeking refinement in architecture will mean much more than the transformation of space and form. It will be the transformation of the human being itself!