Teacher
Sílvia Alves

Resume

Sílvia Maria do Carmo Alves has been recognised as an architect, university lecturer, and researcher whose professional and academic trajectory has encompassed architectural practice, teaching, and scientific investigation. Throughout her career, she has placed particular emphasis on architectural heritage, sustainable rehabilitation, and building performance. The Degree in Architecture was completed at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP) in 1996, followed by a DEA in Architecture from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in 2005. In 2019, a PhD in Architecture was awarded by the Universidad de Sevilla, with funding provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Doctoral research was centred on the energy behaviour and non-intrusive rehabilitation strategies of historic residential buildings located in the historic centre of Oporto. The position of Invited Assistant Professor is currently held at the Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI) and the Universidade Lusófona do Porto (ULP), where design- and construction-related courses within Integrated Master’s programmes in Architecture are taught. Between 2007 and 2016, a faculty appointment was held at ISMAT (Portimão), during which extensive experience was gained in architectural design studios, seminars, and thesis supervision. The teaching approach has been informed by professional practice and the cultural and urban context of Portuguese architecture. In parallel with academic activity, continuous professional architectural practice has been maintained, marked by a 13-year collaboration with Eduardo Souto de Moura in the development of nationally and internationally recognised projects. This collaboration facilitated direct engagement with complex design processes and the realisation of a diverse portfolio of works, ranging from residential and institutional buildings to urban interventions. Built works have been widely published, exhibited, and awarded, with distinctions conferred by the Portuguese Architects Association (Ordem dos Arquitectos) and several prizes received in public architectural competitions. Professional expertise has been further broadened through independent practice and consultancy, with an emphasis on the rehabilitation of historic buildings and the promotion of sustainable architectural solutions. Scientific output comprises a substantial body of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and international conference presentations, addressing a broad spectrum of topics, including vernacular architecture, the energy performance of historic buildings, passive design strategies, and heritage-sensitive retrofit methodologies. Roles as a scientific reviewer have been assumed for leading international journals, including Cities and Building and Environment (Elsevier, Q1), where rigorous evaluation of research contributions is undertaken. Academic events and exhibitions have been organised both independently and in collaboration with institutional partners, supporting the dissemination of architectural research and fostering dialogue within the scholarly community. Active participation in international research networks and editorial projects has been maintained, resulting in meaningful contributions to advancing architectural knowledge and promoting interdisciplinary exchange. Research activity has been situated within the Humanities, with a particular emphasis on Architecture, integrating architectural design, building physics, sustainability, and heritage studies. Current research projects have focused on the intersection of construction systems, cultural heritage, and environmental performance, addressing contemporary challenges related to climate adaptation and the preservation of built heritage. Collaborative initiatives with international teams have facilitated the exchange of advanced methodologies and the development of innovative approaches for sustainable rehabilitation.

Graus

• Doctor
  Arquitectura
• DEA
  Arquitectura
• Licenciatura
  Arquitectura

Publicações

Journal article

• 2017-01-15, Evaluating non-intrusive energy retrofits for the built heritage of the historic centre of oporto, International Journal of Heritage Architecture: Studies, Repairs and Maintence
• 2017, The Sustainable Heritage of Vernacular Architecture: The Historic Center of Oporto, Procedia Environmental Sciences
• 2014-09-24, Infiltration rate performance of buildings in the historic centre of Oporto, Informes de la Construcción

Book chapter

• 2021, Sustainable Preservation of the Built Environment: A Case Study of the Historic Centre of Oporto, Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition), Springer International Publishing
• 2014, A Janela de Johari, Ismat, Portimão.
• 2012, Rehabilitation and Energy efficiency - Methodological strategies for the Historic Centre of Oporto , Green Lines Institute

Conference paper

• Evaluating constructive and typological retrofits in solid masonry historic buildings, 14th International Conference on Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture
• 2019-10-10, Sustainable preservation of the built environment: a case study of the historic centre of Oporto, 2nd Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration (EMCEI-2)

Patent

• Kitchen cabinets, 015133261-0001, Sílvia Maria do Carmo Alves