NOARQ

NOARQ is a Portuguese architecture practice founded in 1998 by architect José Carlos Nunes de Oliveira. The studio describes its work as grounded in "attention, reflection and response," a response sustained by realism, tolerance and creative courage, operating at the limits of the discipline. Its practice is committed to time and space, interrogation, inclusion and doubt. NOARQ presents itself as "a willingness of doing and thinking by hands," and since its founding it has evolved into an area of research, creation and production through drawing — for the land, architecture and everyday objects. The studio is currently located in Trofa, in the Greater Porto region, while maintaining its roots in Porto. Its founder, José Carlos Nunes de Oliveira, is a Portuguese architect who graduated in 1998 from ESAP under the supervision of architect Nuno Mateus (ARX Portugal, Lisbon). He designed his first house in 1996, built it four years later, and began his professional activity from there. From 2000 to 2021 he was part of Álvaro Siza Vieira's team, where he was responsible for different projects and works, some of them in collaboration with architect Eduardo Souto Moura. He continues to maintain some projects in co-authorship with Álvaro Siza and Arenas y Asociados. Beyond his authorial practice, Nunes de Oliveira is active in architectural education and discourse. He has served as Regional Adviser at the Asia Designer Communication Platform, as a visiting professor at the Master in Architecture and Design (MArch) at the Universidad Europea de Valencia since 2015, and at the Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo at the Universidad de Belgrano in 2020. He is frequently invited as a visiting lecturer to architecture conferences, workshops and exhibitions at various national and international universities and institutions, including the 2019 International Architecture Biennale of Buenos Aires. NOARQ's output spans landscape design, architecture and everyday objects, reflecting a multidisciplinary, drawing-centered approach. The studio positions itself as a small, author-driven practice rather than a large commercial firm, with a philosophy that emphasizes critical realism, creative tolerance and engagement with the limits of architecture. Its work is primarily associated with Portugal but reaches international audiences through exhibitions, academic engagements and collaborations.

NOARQ was founded in 1998 by José Carlos Nunes de Oliveira, the same year he graduated from ESAP under the supervision of architect Nuno Mateus (ARX Portugal, Lisbon). His path into architecture began earlier: in 1996 he designed his first house, which he built four years later, and this project marked the start of his professional activity. The studio was established in Porto, the city that remains its spiritual and professional root. From 2000 to 2021, Nunes de Oliveira was part of Álvaro Siza Vieira's team, where he was responsible for different projects and works, some of them in collaboration with architect Eduardo Souto Moura. This long association with one of Portugal's most celebrated architects shaped the studio's approach and expanded its professional network. Even after that period, he continues to maintain some projects in co-authorship with Álvaro Siza and Arenas y Asociados. Over the years, NOARQ evolved from a conventional architecture office into what it describes as "an area of research, creation and production by drawing," extending its scope to the land, architecture and everyday objects. The studio's philosophy is articulated around "attention, reflection and response," with a response sustained by realism, tolerance and creative courage. It commits itself to time and space, interrogation, inclusion and doubt. At some point the studio relocated to Trofa, in the Greater Porto region, while still maintaining its roots in Porto. This move reflects the practice's regional grounding combined with an international outlook. Nunes de Oliveira has also built an academic and advisory profile. He served as Regional Adviser at the Asia Designer Communication Platform. Since 2015 he has been a visiting professor at the Master in Architecture and Design (MArch) at the Universidad Europea de Valencia, and in 2020 he taught at the Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo at the Universidad de Belgrano. He is frequently invited as a visiting lecturer to architecture conferences, workshops and exhibitions at various national and international universities and institutions, including the 2019 International Architecture Biennale of Buenos Aires. NOARQ's work is documented through its official website, which presents the studio's philosophy, biography and projects. The practice remains active and continues to operate from Trofa, producing architecture, landscape and object design under the authorial direction of its founder.

• 2021

  End of Nunes de Oliveira's period in Álvaro Siza Vieira's team.

• 2020

  Nunes de Oliveira teaches at Universidad de Belgrano.

• 2019

  Participation in the International Architecture Biennale of Buenos Aires.

• 2015

  Nunes de Oliveira becomes visiting professor at Universidad Europea de Valencia.

• 2000

  Nunes de Oliveira joins Álvaro Siza Vieira's team (until 2021).

• 1998

  NOARQ is founded; Nunes de Oliveira graduates from ESAP.

• 1996

  José Carlos Nunes de Oliveira designs his first house.

Author-driven architecture studio emphasizing critical realism, creative tolerance and engagement with the limits of the discipline.

• Architecture projects

  Design and construction of buildings, including residential and other works.

• Landscape design

  Research and design focused on land and landscape.

• Everyday objects

  Design of everyday objects through drawing and production.

1. 1NOARQ | José Carlos Nunes de Oliveira | architecture in Portonoarq.com
2. 2N O A R Q | about the studionoarq.com
3. 3NOARQwikidata.org