Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) stands as a masterclass in architectural intervention across multiple scales, also serving as a school of urbanism and city planning. Without physical walls, the campus organizes buildings, public and semi-public spaces, defining its three core functions: Teaching, Research, and Community Services. At the Asprela Campus, the Administration Block and Main Auditorium articulate the entrance, while the classroom blocks use courtyards and transparent corridors to create accessible green spaces that connect various departments and laboratories, linked via metal bridges and covered walkways.

The spatial configuration meets functional needs, with window shapes and sizes tailored to the space type: square for classrooms and library, vertical for auditoria, horizontal for circulation, and natural light flooding through skylights into laboratories. Constructively, granite curtain walls are used on exterior façades, while ETICS systems (innovative at the time) are applied to interiors, ensuring thermal insulation with a smooth texture.

The campus reflects a clear and functional architectural grammar, employing materials and structures in their natural form. Wooden furnishings and scientific instruments evoke the building’s vocation as a center for education, research, and innovation. Inaugurated in 2000, FEUP transformed the Asprela Campus into a vibrant technological hub, integrating international research networks, innovative companies, and centers of excellence, attracting talent and fostering innovation for the city of Porto.