Atelier RUA is an architecture collective founded in 2006 and based in Lisbon, Portugal. The organization was established by four architects—Francisco Garcia de Freitas, Luís Costa Valente, Paulo Vieira Borralho, and Rui Velho Didier—who bring experience from both Portugal and international contexts including the Netherlands and Switzerland. From its studio on Rua das Fontaínhas, Atelier RUA works on projects that range from residential housing and public buildings to rehabilitation of existing structures, urban planning, and exhibition spaces.
The scale and diversity of the studio’s work distinguish its approach. Recent projects include the Adega 23 winery in Sarnadas de Ródão, where industrial function meets carefully considered architectural form, and a large camping facility in Abrantes renowned for its innovative, continuous white-louvered facade that unifies previously dispersed buildings over an area of nearly 7,000 square meters. Additional commissions include the refurbishment of apartments in Lisbon and the design of new public spaces and community facilities in Portugal.
Atelier RUA has received recognition for its designs, winning the first prize in the competition for the Information and Documentation Centre of the Lisbon Harbour and earning nominations such as for the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. The studio’s scope extends internationally, undertaking projects in Spain, Angola, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The organization maintains a consistent focus on context-driven design, navigating between new builds, adaptive reuse, and landscape-centered interventions.