João Luís Carrilho da Graça is an architect, licensed by the Lisbon School of Fine Arts, since 1977, when he began his professional activity. He played an important role in university education, having been an assistant, professor and coordinator at several national universities, as well as a guest professor at the University of Navarre for several years.

He is also a regular guest at seminars and conferences at various universities and international institutions.

His work has been awarded several prizes, namely: the title of “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Republic in 2010, the “Pessoa Award” in 2008, the Luz-luzboa International Biennial Award in 2004, the Order of Merit of the Portuguese Republic in 1999 and the “Aica-International Association of Art Critics” award in 1992. It was also distinguished with the “Piranesi Prix de Rome” in 2010, with the “Fad” award in 1999, with the award “Valmor” in 1998 (by the Pavilion of Knowledge of the Seas – Expo’98), with the “Secil Architecture Award” in 1994 (by the Lisbon School of Social Communication), and was six times nominated for the European Architecture Award Mies van der Rohe.