Contacts
Rua do Instituto Industrial 18, 2d
1200-225 Lisboa, Portugal
(+351) 213 950 199

Inquiries & Commissions
info@embaixada.net

Administration & Accounting
account@embaixada.net

Job Applications & Internships
work@embaixada.net

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Embaixada was created in 2002 by seven associates with degrees in Architecture and is currently directed by three of the founding partners, with the aim of producing projects capable of answering the exquisite requirements of contemporary life in innovative ways. As an office it refuses to be limited to one type of specialization, constantly searching for new and different challenges.
The work developed encloses areas such as Urbanism, Architecture, New Media, Arts and Design, and our website provides, with short excerpts, an overview of some of the offices designed.

Unleash was established in 2012 by the three directors of Embaixada, in order to clarify the overlapping nature of the design/research phases, allowing space for a wider range of purpose inside the office. Unleash is a task force with an academic focus, scientifically addressing processes and outputs on the architecture frontier, retrieving knowledge and data for future use. An investigation that feeds ongoing design with inventive questions and researches finished design in relation to its consequences and impact on real life.

Embaixada & Unleash are reverse faces of the same coin. Inevitably influenced by other entities of cultural production, they never allow themselves to be limited and hold the ambition to develop processes which refuse generalist results. Each project is developed as a prototype, taking into account the identity of each design and the programmatic conditions of each client.
Counting on the regular contribution of several specialists, in the most diverse areas, in order to extend its expertise and know-how, this hybrid team presents a diversified and dynamic structure. Taking great advantage of each personal contribution and avoiding the traditional majority way of decision-making, therefore holding a debate, generating a strong creative potential and an ample capacity of adaptation to the most diverse types of project.

You are welcome to challenge us!

Paulo Albuquerque Goinhas

M.Psy. in Community Psychology at ISPA University Institute in 2013 and graduated in Architecture from the Lusíada University of Lisbon in 2001.
Invited Assistant Professor at ISCTE School of Technology and Architecture.
Recipient of Europe 40 under 40 2011 award.
Winner of Archiprix International 2001.
Founding Partner of EMBAIXADA, an award-winning Lisbon based architectural studio created in 2002 and re-established in 2017.
Born in Beja in 1977.

Cristina de Mendonça

Graduated in Architecture from the Lusíada University of Lisbon in 2001.
Recipient of Europe 40 under 40 2011 award.
Founding Partner of EMBAIXADA, an award-winning Lisbon based architectural studio created in 2002 and re-established in 2017.
Born in Lisbon in 1977.

Nuno Bernardo Griff

Graduated in Architecture from the Lusíada University of Lisbon in 2002.
Visiting Professor at the Architectural Department (DARQ) and member of Research Center Architectural Lab. (LabART) at the Lusófona University of Humanities and Technology (ULHT).
Recipient of Europe 40 under 40 2011 award.
Founding Partner of EMBAIXADA, an award-winning Lisbon based architectural studio created in 2002 and re-established in 2017.
Born in Lisbon in 1975.

Premio Enor

Year – 2007
Award – Built Project (Selected Work)
Entity – Ascensores ENOR
Spain

Organized by ENOR elevators, Premios ENOR its a prize for projects built in Spain and Portugal but may fall on architects of any nationality. Works are presented under the suggestion of the Professional Architectural Colleges or by request of the jury, but any author is free to present projects. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was one of the selected works of III Premio de Arquitectura ENOR 2007.

Contractworld Award

Year – 2009
Award – Built Project (Winner)
Entity – AIT magazine, Contractworld
Germany

Organized by AIT magazine, the contractworld award focuses on the latest developments in interior design and architecture. The contractworld award is regarded as the most important architecture prize for interior design and is seen as the most reliable indicator of the quality of interior design in these areas of work. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was selected the winner of category Conversion on 2009 edition.

Architect Award ABF

Year – 2009
Award – Built Project (Winner)
Entity – ABF
Czech Republic

Organized by ABF, the aim of the architectonic competition Architect Award ABF 2009 is to help students and young architects to find their place on the current architectonic scene, to make the wide public familiar with the contemporaneous architecture and to make the study of architecture more attractive for young people. Last but not least, the competition will help to map the creative work of novice architects. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was selected the winner of category Implementations on 2009 edition.

Mies van der Rohe Award

Year – 2009
Award – Built Project (Nominee)
Entity – Fundacion Mies Van der Rohe
Europe

Organized by the Fundacion Mies Van der Rohe, the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture aims to recognize and commend excellence in European architecture in conceptual, social, cultural, technical and constructive terms. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was part of the nominees' list in 2009.

Tile Award

Year – 2011
Award – Built Project (Winner)
Entity – AIT magazine & Agrob Buchtal
Germany

The Tile Award is a creative ideas competition on the topic of tiles initiated by the architecture magazine AIT in collaboration with AGROB BUCHTAL. The competition addresses architects and interior designers under the age of 35. The content of the competition task was to design new, unconventional and spectacular interiors by using tiles. The organizers looked for the most creative and exceptional ideas illustrating the varied design possibilities of this material. Architects and interior designers throughout Europe were invited to submit their designs. The "Inside-Out" project for the Cersaie fair was selected as the winners on the 2011 edition.

WAA

Award Year – 2010
Award – Built Project (Winner)
Entity – World Architecture Community
World Wide Web

WA Awards are organized by the World Architecture Community on 3 cycles per year base. The award highlights and recognizes remarkable projects that might otherwise remain unnoticed by the international public, yet have the potential to inspire exciting questions about contemporary architectural discourse. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was selected by the votes of Honorary Members on the 8th cycle.

AIT Award

Year – 2012
Award – Built Project (Winner)
Entity – AIT magazine
Germany

Organized by AIT, a magazine with 120 years, its a Global Award for the very best in Interior and Architecture, looking to find and acknowledge the best architecture and most outstanding interior design projects in all regions of the world. The "Inside-Out" project for the Cersaie fair was selected as the winner on the Fair Design category.

Building of the Year

Year – 2022
Award – Built Project (Nominee)
Entity – archdaily
Internet

ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards is a peer-based, crowdsourced architecture award that showcases projects chosen by ArchDaily readers.
The Herdade da Cardeira Winery was part of the projects selected to represent the best architecture of the year.

Arquitectura e Sustentabilidade Inovação Award

Year – 2021
Award – Built Project (Finalist)
Entity – Ordem dos Arquitectos
Portugal

Herdade da Cardeira Winery was one of finalist buildings from The Sustainability and Innovation Awards, organized by the Environmental Fund and Ordem dos Arquitectos, who intend to recognize architects who have produced works that are exemplary, innovative, and significant in the field of sustainability and eco-efficiency. 

Arquitetura no Alentejo

Year – 2023
Award – Arquitetura no Alentejo (Honorable Mention)
Entity – Ordem dos Arquitectos
Portugal

Herdade da Cardeira Winery was distinguished with an Honourable Mention in the Rehabilitation category, which included both public and private works. Arquitetura no Alentejo is an award dedicated to distinguishing and rewarding projects of recognised architectural quality, carried out in the largest Portuguese geographical area, the Alentejo.

Bauwelt Prize

Year – 2009
Award – Built Project (Selected Work)
Format – Bauwelt Editorial
Germany

Organized by Bauwelt since 1999, Bauwelt Prize “First Works” (consisting of 6 awards) applies to all categories from the interior design of shops and stores to prototypal constructions, from public housing projects to the restructuring of public space and to temporary interventions. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was part of the best selection of Bauwelt Prize 2009.

40 under 40

Year – 2011
Award – Career Award
Entity – The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies
Europe

40 under 40 its an award organized by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and its a selection of 40 designers under the age of 40. Architects who have achieved recognition for the quality of their work in their own country or sphere and are emerging internationally. Young professionals who explore new, creative, and innovative ideas and experiment in design and new materials, fostering a concern for the environment and add to our greater understanding of humanity. The partners of EMBAIXADA were selected as recipients in the year 2011.

AIT best of office architecture award

Year – 2008
Award – Built Project (Honorable Mention)
Entity – AIT design post
Germany

Organized by AIT Magazine in a a ceremony that took place in Koln, AIT best of office architecture award was a percursor to the AIT Award, with a focus on interior architecture and office design. Casa dos Cubos (Tomar EMIO) was one of the Honorable Mention on the 2008 edition.