Personal information

Architecture
Portugal

Biography

Maria Rita Pais (Lisbon, 1975) is an architect, teacher, researcher and curator based in Lisbon. With degree in Architecture by Faculty of Architecture of Lisbon Technical University FAUTL (1999), Master in Construction by Instituto Superior Técnico (2004) and PhD in Architecture by FAUTL (2012), maintains research and academic activity together with the architectural project and curatorial activity, as a way to achieve greater breadth in the discipline of architecture and in its dissemination. Her research interests focus mainly on architecture and, more specifically in the relationship between architecture and media and in hard heritage. Currently, is coordinating two research projects: one on the recently found and declassified bunkers from Portugal and another in bringing art as a historical document in the field of the history of architecture. Her teaching activity began in 2001 at IST (Instituto Superior Técnico - Lisbon) as Manuel Vicente Assistant in Project Design discipline. Has also teached at Parq-EUVG and ARCA, in Coimbra and is currently teaching as Associated Professor at Universidade Lusófona - Pólo Universitário de Lisboa and as Guest Teacher at FAUL. During this experience has been responsible for the units “History of Contemporary Architecture”, “Critical Architectural Discourse”, “Habitat and Housing Space”, “Dissertation”, “Specialization Seminars”, and “Curatorial Resources”, “Project Design”, “Art and Architecture”, and “Research Methods in Architecture”, in the Master Degree in Architecture; and “Architectural Design Conception”, “Architecture: Design and Research”, “Thesis I and II”, “Research Methods in Architecture” and “Thesis Project” in the PhD degree in Architecture. Still in the academic field, has supervised over thirty master's thesis, one post-doc and is supervising seven PhD thesis. She also participate in scientific committees for several scientific publications and peer reviews papers, scientific projects and evaluates over three universities in academia internationally. She also writes, edit and co-edit several books as the Journey into the Invisible: Space, Experience, Representation, a book, that won the FAD AWARD for 2020. In addition, as a scholar, holds several international conferences as a speaker or mediator, publishes scientific books and articles in leading international journals and magazines and actively participates in workshops related to her research areas. Was co-editor of Lusófona Magazine of Architecture and Education and Baú Magazine. Currently is preparing a research project with the Ministry of National Defence and is CoCo at Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Project nº823901 SOSClimateWaterfront Marie Curie Project (with Pedro Ressano Garcia), together with various academic management positions as PhD Coordinator, Member of the Scientific Council for the Architecture Department for Lusófona University, Coordinator for Mobility for the Department of Architecture and Urbanism and Coordinator for Academia do Ensino Lusófono. In curatorial field, has co-curated the Lisbon Open House 2018, along with Luis Santiago Baptista, co-curated Habitar Portugal 2009-2011 - an initiative of the Portuguese Architects Guild, together with Susana Ventura and Rita Dourado and co-curated the exhibition Journey into the Invisible with Luís Santiago Baptista, funded by the Portuguese Government, and was responsible for curating several events, programming and designing exhibitions such as Anteciparte, Alvito Project, Mini-Stereo , Cinematographic Marathon Living Architectures and Par Hasard, among others. Currently is curating “Cuidar de um País”, for Bienal Anozero and “The Way to Disarm is to Disarm”, for galeria Note. She also works as an architect individually and in partnership with several international awards (Archdaily 2011, Honorable Mention at The Plan Award 2015 and Best Interior Asian-Pacific Design Award. Also has won the prize for the best paper presentation at the NHR2010 in Istanbul, the FAD Award 2020 for Thoughts and Critics and Prémio Távora 2023.

Activities

Employment (6)

Faculty of Architecture, University of Lisbon: Lisbon, Lisbon, PT

2022-09 to present | Invited Professor (Architecture)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

FCT - COFAC: Lisbon, Lisboa, PT

2019-01-01 to present | Coordinator Researcher (Architecture and Urbanism)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2013-09-01 to present | Assistent Professor (Arquitectura)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Escola Universitária das Artes de Coimbra: Coimbra, Coimbra, PT

2014-09 to 2016-01 | Assistent Professor (Architecture)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Vasco da Gama: Coimbra, Coimbra, PT

2011-09-01 to 2013-12-31 | Assistent Professor (Arquitectura)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2001-10 to 2003-06 | Assistent (Architecture)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Education and qualifications (3)

Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa Faculdade de Arquitectura: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2006-01-01 to 2012-06-22 | PhD (Architecture)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2001-09-01 to 2004-05 | Master (Architecture)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa Faculdade de Arquitectura: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

1993-10-01 to 1998-12-15 | Degree (Architecture)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Professional activities (16)

Universidade Lusófona: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2024-01 to present | Coordinator (Academia Ensino Lusófono)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Departamento de Arquitectura e Urbanismo - Universidade Lusófona - Pólo Universitário de Lisboa: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2023-10-15 to present | Mobility Coordinator (Architecture and Urbanism)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Lusófona - Pólo Universitário de Lisboa: Lisbon, Lisbon, PT

2022 to present | Scientific Committee (Architecture and Urbanism)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Universidade Lusófona - Pólo Universitário de Lisboa: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2020 to present | Vice-Director (Terr.A.ID Research Center)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Brussels, BE

2019-04-18 to present | Coordinator Contact (sosclimatewaterfront (823901))
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Brussels, Brussels, BE

2019 to present | Scientific Committee
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

OASRN - Ordem dos Arquitectos Secção Regional Norte: Porto, Porto, PT

2023-10-06 | Prémio Távora (Casa da Arquitectura e Fundação Marques da Silva)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

FAD AWARD: Barcelona, Catalonia, ES

2020 | 2020 FAD Thought and Criticism Award (Foment de les Arts i del Disseny)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Ordem dos Arquitectos Secção Regional Sul: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2016 | 1º lugar no concurso para o Comissariado “Viagem Pop-Up”
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Archdaily: São Paulo, BR

2016 | Finalista do prémio “Building of the year 2015” (Uralchem Headquarters)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

The Plan Award 2015: Moscow, Moscow, RU

2015 | The Plan Award 2015 – Honourable Mention, Escritórios sede da Uralchem
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

The Best of Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards 2015: Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HK

2015 | Honourable Mention - Architecture (International Interior Design Association (IIDA))
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Ordem dos Arquitectos: Lisboa, Lisboa, PT

2012 | 1º lugar no concurso para o Comissariado da Habitar Portugal 2009-2011
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Bienal Ibero-americana de Design: Madrid, MAdrid, ES

2012 | Menção Honrosa na Bienal Ibero-americana de Design, com o projecto da sede da Fraunhofer no Porto
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Archdaily: São Paulo, São Paulo, BR

2012 | “Building of the year 2011”
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

ENHR: Istambul, TR

2009 | “Best paper and presented”
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Funding (4)

Viagem ao Invisível

2016-12 to 2017-12 | Contract
DGArtes (Lisbon, Lisbon, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Viagem ao Invisível

2015-11 to 2016-06 | Award
Ordem dos Arquitectos (Lisbon, Lisbon, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Habitar Portugal 09-11

2012-06 to 2013-06 | Contract
Ordem dos Arquitectos Portugueses (Lisbon, Lisbon, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais

Portuguese Architecture Dinamics. A cross look into portuguese single-family house and editorials

2006-01 to 2009-12 | Contract
Ministério da Educação e Ciência (Lisboa, Lisboa, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Maria Rita Pais