Studio

Studio

A practice of eighteen architects in Lisbon.

A practice of eighteen architects in Lisbon.

Founded in 2011, ARQVE works across Europe on buildings, interiors and public spaces. The studio remains deliberately small, so that a partner leads every project from beginning to end.

Founded in 2011, ARQVE works across Europe on buildings, interiors and public spaces. The studio remains deliberately small, so that a partner leads every project from beginning to end.

Founded

2011

Partners

02

Team

18

Light cutting across a board-marked concrete wall

Philosophy

Philosophy

We believe architecture is experienced before it is understood: through the temperature of a stone floor, the sound of a room, the way light enters at a particular hour.

Our work is guided less by a style than by a set of questions we ask of every project. What is already here? What should remain? What is the least we can build to make the most difference? The answers lead to buildings that are often quiet, sometimes surprising, and always specific to their place.

Our work is guided less by a style than by a set of questions we ask of every project. What is already here? What should remain? What is the least we can build to make the most difference? The answers lead to buildings that are often quiet, sometimes surprising, and always specific to their place.

We work in a single open studio on the Rua da Boavista, where models, samples and drawings are shared across every project. Research is part of daily practice: our material studies on stone, lime and low-carbon concrete are published and shared openly with the profession.

We work in a single open studio on the Rua da Boavista, where models, samples and drawings are shared across every project. Research is part of daily practice: our material studies on stone, lime and low-carbon concrete are published and shared openly with the profession.

Values

Values

Four principles we hold to.

Four principles we hold to.

01

Specificity

Every project begins on its site. We do not have a house style; we have a method for finding the right building for a place.

02

Restraint

We remove before we add. Fewer materials, fewer details, carried out with more care.

03

Permanence

We design buildings to outlast their first use, their first owner and, ideally, us.

04

Collaboration

Engineers, craftspeople and clients are part of the design team from the first week.

White plaster massing model on a table

Massing model, Saline Gallery competition

Acrylic study model of interlocking volumes

Acrylic light study

Drafting table and lamp in the studio

The studio, Rua da Boavista

Scale ruler and pencil

Scale and pencil

64

Projects realised

09

Countries

07

Competitions won

15

Years of practice

(02) People

(02) People

The studio.

The studio.

Portrait of Tomás Albuquerque

Tomás Albuquerque

Founding Partner

Studied in Porto and Zurich. Spent eight years in practice in Basel before founding ARQVE. Teaches design studio at the University of Lisbon.

Portrait of Inês Valadares

Inês Valadares

Partner

Leads residential and interior work. Joined in 2013 after six years in Madrid. Writes regularly on domestic space.

Portrait of Amara Okafor

Amara Okafor

Associate, Cultural

Architect and lighting specialist. Led the competition and delivery of the Saline Gallery.

Portrait of Rui Mota

Rui Mota

Associate, Technical

Responsible for construction detailing and site supervision across all studio projects.

Portrait of Lena Kowalska

Lena Kowalska

Senior Architect

Trained in Kraków and Delft. Leads the studio's research into load-bearing stone.

Portrait of Jonas Weber

Jonas Weber

Architect

Joined from Basel in 2022. Works across commercial and workplace projects.

Recognition

Recognition

2026

Shortlist

Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize — sample entry

2025

Winner

National Architecture Award, Public Building — sample entry

2025

Publication

Casa Alba in a leading architecture quarterly — sample entry

2024

1st prize

Saline Gallery international competition — sample entry

2023

Exhibition

Load-bearing stone, Lisbon Architecture Triennale — sample entry

Dark interior where a band of light falls across the floor towards a doorway and a white stair

Begin a project

Begin a project

Join the studio, or begin a project with us.

Start an inquiry

studio@arqve.com

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