Image taken from: https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2025-07-27-morreu-nuno-portas-pai-de-paulo-e-miguel-portas-37dda538
The International Union of Architects mourns the passing of Portuguese architect, urbanist, and thinker Nuno Portas, who died in July 2025 at the age of 90. A visionary in the fields of urbanism and architectural theory, Nuno Portas was awarded the Sir Patrick Abercrombie Prize by the UIA in 2005 during the UIA World Congress in Istanbul, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to urban planning.
Throughout his prolific career, Nuno Portas played a pivotal role in shaping modern architectural and urban discourse, particularly in Portugal and across the Lusophone world. He was a professor, researcher, and author whose work bridged architecture, politics, and social responsibility. His influence extended beyond academia and into public policy, where he advocated for more inclusive and human-centred urban development.
He served as Secretary of State for Housing and Urbanism in Portugal, playing a key role in post-revolution housing policy. Later, he moved to Madrid, where between 1980 and 1983, he coordinated inter-municipal planning for the capital and its metropolitan area, leading initiatives across 25 municipalities in the Madrid periphery.
Portas was also a consultant for the Metropolitan Strategic Plan of Barcelona (1991–1992) and contributed to the Urban Planning Framework of Santiago de Compostela. Moreover, he collaborated with United Nations agencies and the European Union on urban planning and research-related matters.
His legacy includes his foundational role in Portugal’s SAAL (Serviço Ambulatório de Apoio Local) housing programme following the 1974 Carnation Revolution, a landmark initiative promoting participatory architecture and citizen-led urban transformation. His work exemplified the transformative potential of architecture in service of democracy, equity, and cultural identity.
The UIA extends its deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and the wider architectural community. Nuno Portas’s intellectual legacy and unwavering commitment to the social dimension of architecture will continue to inspire generations to come.