CA and the Ministry of Environment and Energy join forces to highlight architecture as a strategic asset in responding to the climate crisis
Casa da Arquitectura (CA) – Portuguese Centre for Architecture is partnering with the Ministry of Environment and Energy to develop the design and construction strategy for the Portuguese Pavilion for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will take place between 10 and 21 November 2025, in Belém do Pará, Brazil.
For the first time, the conference will be held in a Portuguese-speaking country, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol – a symbolic moment to reaffirm the role of Portugal and national architecture in the global fight against climate change.
The collaboration between Casa da Arquitectura and the Ministry of Environment and Energy is part of a joint effort to recognise architecture as a strategic national asset, essential not only in promoting the country's image, but also as a fundamental tool in combating the climate crisis and in the energy and environmental transition.
Following this partnership, architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, winner of the 2011 Pritzker Prize and Honorary Associate of Casa da Arquitectura, was chosen to design the Portuguese Pavilion. This is the first time that the country will be represented by a customised national pavilion, designed by one of the most renowned figures in world architecture.
With 150 m² and two fronts, the pavilion will feature an auditorium area, a networking area and a technical support area, as well as an LED wall for visual communication, where a video produced by Casa da Arquitectura will be shown. The space will also be complemented with designer furniture by Álvaro Siza and Souto de Moura, reinforcing the appreciation of architectural creation and Portuguese designers.
For architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, ‘to carry out a project in Portugal, in this case in Brazil, 23 engineering projects are needed (which is not the case), which gives an idea of how long it takes to carry out a public work for the State. I enjoyed working on this project, both in terms of its design and its implementation, because it is done in a timely manner, so that the result has the quality it deserves’.
The Portuguese Pavilion will be a space for meeting and sharing, open to the Portuguese-speaking community and to dialogue between cultures, science and innovation. According to the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, "the Portugal Pavilion is an open, Portuguese-speaking space that will host initiatives from companies, universities, polytechnics, non-governmental organisations and also projects from CPLP countries. It is a space for sharing knowledge, culture and solutions — and where fado and innovation will meet under the same roof."
The Minister also stresses that ‘Portugal wants to be a country that builds bridges — also in terms of climate. Portuguese architecture, through its quality and identity, represents our ability to create responsibly and to inspire global energy and environmental transition.’
For Nuno Sampaio, executive director of Casa da Arquitectura, “the construction process and buildings are fundamental to the success of the European Green Deal and the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan. In order to achieve the environmental, social and governance goals set by the European Union, it is necessary to accelerate the transformation towards architecture with a lower environmental impact, with a differentiated construction process and lower maintenance and operating costs.” He adds: ‘In addition to being a strategic national asset, Portuguese architecture is an essential tool in combating the climate crisis and an indispensable part of the energy and environmental transition process.’
The Casa da Arquitectura and the Ministry of Environment and Energy recognise that construction processes and architectural quality are key to a global strategy for reducing consumption and emissions. According to the UN, the use of raw materials has doubled in the last 40 years, and in some areas it has tripled. Given this scenario, it is urgent to rethink construction processes and accelerate the renovation of the building stock, reducing carbon intensity and promoting energy efficiency.
The design of the Portuguese Pavilion at COP30, conceived by Souto de Moura, represents a historic milestone for Portuguese architecture, affirming it as an essential part of the climate solution and a symbol of the country's cultural identity.
For the first time, the conference will be held in a Portuguese-speaking country, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol – a symbolic moment to reaffirm the role of Portugal and national architecture in the global fight against climate change.
The collaboration between Casa da Arquitectura and the Ministry of Environment and Energy is part of a joint effort to recognise architecture as a strategic national asset, essential not only in promoting the country's image, but also as a fundamental tool in combating the climate crisis and in the energy and environmental transition.
Following this partnership, architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, winner of the 2011 Pritzker Prize and Honorary Associate of Casa da Arquitectura, was chosen to design the Portuguese Pavilion. This is the first time that the country will be represented by a customised national pavilion, designed by one of the most renowned figures in world architecture.
With 150 m² and two fronts, the pavilion will feature an auditorium area, a networking area and a technical support area, as well as an LED wall for visual communication, where a video produced by Casa da Arquitectura will be shown. The space will also be complemented with designer furniture by Álvaro Siza and Souto de Moura, reinforcing the appreciation of architectural creation and Portuguese designers.
For architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, ‘to carry out a project in Portugal, in this case in Brazil, 23 engineering projects are needed (which is not the case), which gives an idea of how long it takes to carry out a public work for the State. I enjoyed working on this project, both in terms of its design and its implementation, because it is done in a timely manner, so that the result has the quality it deserves’.
The Portuguese Pavilion will be a space for meeting and sharing, open to the Portuguese-speaking community and to dialogue between cultures, science and innovation. According to the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, "the Portugal Pavilion is an open, Portuguese-speaking space that will host initiatives from companies, universities, polytechnics, non-governmental organisations and also projects from CPLP countries. It is a space for sharing knowledge, culture and solutions — and where fado and innovation will meet under the same roof."
The Minister also stresses that ‘Portugal wants to be a country that builds bridges — also in terms of climate. Portuguese architecture, through its quality and identity, represents our ability to create responsibly and to inspire global energy and environmental transition.’
For Nuno Sampaio, executive director of Casa da Arquitectura, “the construction process and buildings are fundamental to the success of the European Green Deal and the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan. In order to achieve the environmental, social and governance goals set by the European Union, it is necessary to accelerate the transformation towards architecture with a lower environmental impact, with a differentiated construction process and lower maintenance and operating costs.” He adds: ‘In addition to being a strategic national asset, Portuguese architecture is an essential tool in combating the climate crisis and an indispensable part of the energy and environmental transition process.’
The Casa da Arquitectura and the Ministry of Environment and Energy recognise that construction processes and architectural quality are key to a global strategy for reducing consumption and emissions. According to the UN, the use of raw materials has doubled in the last 40 years, and in some areas it has tripled. Given this scenario, it is urgent to rethink construction processes and accelerate the renovation of the building stock, reducing carbon intensity and promoting energy efficiency.
The design of the Portuguese Pavilion at COP30, conceived by Souto de Moura, represents a historic milestone for Portuguese architecture, affirming it as an essential part of the climate solution and a symbol of the country's cultural identity.
Institucional Partner
Portuguese contemporary art network
Strategic Partner
Main sponsor of Casa da Arquitectura
Sponsor of Casa da Arquitectura
Co-founded by
