Humberto Barbosa
João Nicolau de Almeida
Henrique Marques and Rui Dinis
Founders of Spaceworkers
11 years ago, three friends came together to found the practice Spaceworkers. Henrique and Rui came from Paredes (the city where the architects set up their architecture practice), while Carla Duarte was from Marco de Canavezes. Young and united, they created the practice. Years later, they say their daily struggle to make a difference continues. The two men studied at the Faculty of Architecture and Arts of the Universidade Lusíada do Porto (in different academic years). She graduated in International Economic and Political Relations from the University of Minho. The two architects design unique and distinctive project, with identity and emotions. Carla is responsible for the practice’s management and financial area. All together they like to believe that they are «kind of sculptors of emotions and of time».
Rui, Henrique and Carla, have been together since 2007. What was the greatest challenge you have had to face during these 11 years at Spaceworkers?
The greatest challenge has been surviving the adverse market conditions and weathering the fact that we are not based in a large urban centre, by choice, because we believe that small cities also deserve an opportunity. For this reason we have had to reinvent ourselves as a practice, and to explore different work opportunities: from public works to private, industrial projects or small offices, and also renovation work.
You seek to instil innovation and emotion in your work. Why?
We believe that architecture is much more than a simple construction to fulfil a functional need. In its genesis, and, if you were to undersell it, it may start there; but we believe that, in reality, it should be much more than that. What really sets architecture apart from ordinary buildings is precisely its identity and the emotions it conveys to us as we walk through it. We like to believe that we are kind of sculptors of emotions and time, creating projects where these two intangible elements go hand in hand.
«Being able to develop projects without major creative or financial limitations is what we want for our future»
Spaceworkers has received many awards in Portugal and abroad. Is there one that has affected you the most?
In truth, every accolade has affected us, as they have been given in different stages of the practice; however, the first really important one was the Building of the Year 2015 prize with the project for the Casa de Sambade. It is possibly the most special, since it is the one that has given us some more national and international renown. A house that, in the same year, went on to win another award: the A + Award, promoted by the online platform Architizer.
When you think of an architectural project what do you see?
We always try to start off with a blank canvas, where all ideas, however unrelated they may seem, can be designed and discussed. We do not like to have preconceived ideas. Each client is different, with different personalities, different plots, but in the end they want similar things.
Which path do you want to tread in the future?
We would like to be able to reach other client and markets, and have the opportunity to develop projects in other parts of the world. Being able to develop projects without major creative or financial limitations is what we want for our future.
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Maria Cruz
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