João Vieira discusses the urban future in an interview with Vida Imobiliária

João Vieira, founding architect of Studio JV

Original Publication: Vida Imobiliária (page 30)

DOSSIER//URBAN TRANSFORMATION: A NEW WAY OF MAKING CITIES

João Vieira
STUDIO JV
founding architect

João Vieira, founding architect of Studio JV

Portugal, as an integral part of the European Union, must now align the transformation of its cities with very ambitious sustainability goals. This is a challenge that intersects with another equally relevant one: the scarcity of labor and the increasing costs of construction. Sustainability and constructive viability factors will be decisive in the future of Portuguese cities.

At Studio JV we have been working for several years with modular or industrialized projects that allow us to reverse the traditional process of architectural thinking. The project is conceived in the office, but it is tested and produced in a factory and then implemented on the site, and this type of process will allow us to comply with the costs and construction techniques that the market reality demands.

Meanwhile, wood has established itself as a structural material of choice, sustainable, versatile, and already validated by national technical standards, representing a decisive step towards more balanced and ecological cities.

Another essential aspect will be the integration between landscaping and architecture, both in public spaces and in buildings, creating more pleasant and inclusive environments.

Simultaneously, digitalization and artificial intelligence are changing the way we use services and experience cities. Decentralization can bring quality of life, but also the risk of mono-programmatic neighborhoods.

It is up to architecture to guarantee diversity, vitality, and well-being, reconciling innovation, sustainability, and urban quality.

Increasingly, sustainability and constructive viability will be determining factors for the future of Portuguese cities.