Nuno Melo Sousa

Nuno Melo Sousa is a Portuguese architect whose practice operates at the intersection of architectural design, research and teaching. Based in Penafiel, in northern Portugal, his work is situated within the contemporary tradition of Portuguese architecture, characterised by a strong attention to place, construction and the relationship between architecture and landscape.

Educated at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP), Melo Sousa began his professional practice in the early 2010s, developing a series of projects that explore architecture through clear gestures and elementary structural systems. From his earliest works, his practice has demonstrated a remarkable conceptual coherence, grounded in research into structure, materiality and territorial conditions.

His architecture is defined by a direct approach to the construction process. Projects are often developed through close collaboration with clients, craftsmen and builders, integrating local material knowledge into the design process. This approach allows him to work with limited means and simple construction techniques while seeking to achieve more with fewer resources.

Among his most notable works are projects such as Room in Pala, House in Tâmega, Quintela House, Engenho I Shelter and Burra House, buildings that explore different ways of relating architecture, topography and landscape within the rural context of northern Portugal.

The work of Nuno Melo Sousa has been featured in several international publications and exhibitions. In 2022 the architectural journal En Blanco dedicated its issue 32 to his work, presenting a critical overview of his projects and the architectural principles that structure his practice.

His architecture proposes an ongoing investigation into the relationship between structure, space and landscape, developing projects of modest scale yet significant conceptual and constructive intensity.