Joao Teixeira
Project Architect

As an architect, Joao’s drive comes from the environment, materials, history, and a vision, in the pursuit for remarkable and contextually relevant architectural creations. When designing, he pays close attention to local need and preferences and considers ways in which his designs can support the creation of authentic, meaningful places for people to use and enjoy. One of the most satisfying feelings for Joao is seeing his designs built and being used by the people he designed them for.

Joao has always enjoyed drawing as a way of expressing his creativity. In secondary school his drawing and crafts teacher was an architect who used to share some of his hand drawn sketches. This fascinated him and made him realise that if he became an architect he could take his drawings from the page, see them built and experience them being used. Joao went to on to study Architecture at Escola Superior Artistica do Porto in Portugal.

His favourite building is the Serralves Museum of contemporary Art in Porto, Portugal, designed by the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. As a museum, it fosters the understanding and appreciation of contemporary art and culture. Introducing the work of the most important artists working today, strengthening ties with the local community, and encouraging reflection on the relationship between art and the environment that is intrinsic to the context of Serralves. The entire space was designed to promote the feeling of being integrated into the nature that is forever looking in from the other side of the window. As a social space, it is particularly important to him because he spent many hours in it admiring the exhibits, studying in the library, enjoying its restaurant and reflecting in the grounds.

Joao’s architectural inspiration comes from the environments surrounding his projects because he recognises that culture, weather, and lifestyle significantly influences the design process. To try and create harmonious constructions, he often takes inspiration from both urban and natural surroundings, observing forms, light, scale, materiality, and overall composition to ensure the design fits seamlessly into the context.

Being innovative and adding a personal touch is essential for Joao. To be able to balance client requirements with his creative vision, whether it’s incorporating concepts, specific materials or industry-related concepts, he always strives to expand each clients’ needs into thoughtful designs.

Outside of work, Joao’s favourite hobby is repairing things as he finds it incredibly satisfying and allows him to improve his resourcefulness and problem-solving skills. It also gives him a sense of accomplishment and pride in being able to fix something that was broken and a connection and ownership that comes from being able to maintain and care for the things he uses.