ESMAD students visit the Luis Ferreira Alves Award exhibition
On 17 October, Friday, at 2 p.m.
EN / PT
On Friday, 17 October, at 2 p.m., a group of students from the School of Media, Arts and Design (ESMAD) will visit the photography exhibition of the ‘Luis Ferreira Alves’ Award, on display at the Old Town Hall, next to Porto Cathedral.
The visit, accompanied by ESMAD photography teachers, aims to highlight and contextualise the photographic legacy of Luis Ferreira Alves, emphasising his contribution to the dissemination of Portuguese architecture. The initiative also provides an opportunity to reflect on how different international authors interpret contemporary architecture through images.
The exhibition brings together the works distinguished with the ‘Luis Ferreira Alves’ Award, including the winners and honourable mentions, and reaffirms the importance of photography as a means of dialogue between art, memory and architectural space.
ABOUT THE Exhibition and Publication Launched in the Heart of Porto
On 12 September 2025, the Old Town Hall hosted the official award ceremony, the opening of the exhibition and the launch of the publication of the 1st edition of the Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Award.
The event brought together architects, photographers, students, institutional representatives and the public, with the presence of the honouree's family and friends, his widow and founder of the award, Catarina Providência, as well as the winners: Cyril Weiner (2nd Prize), Sergio Belinchón (3rd Prize), Amelia Lancaster (Special Mention) and the representative of Iranian photographer Maho (1st Prize).
The members of the international jury — architect Eduardo Souto de Moura and photographer Hélène Binet — were also present, reinforcing the prestige of the initiative.
Video of event
Speech by Rui Moreira and symbolism of the venue
The session was opened by the Mayor of Porto, Dr. Rui Moreira, whose speech recognised the merit and quality of the initiative. He emphasised the importance of Luis Ferreira Alves' work in disseminating Portuguese architecture and promoting the international reputation of great masters such as Fernando Távora, Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura.
He also recalled the photographer's deep connection to the city of Porto, which he portrayed like few others, and highlighted the symbolic nature of choosing the Old Town Hall to host the exhibition — a building designed by Fernando Távora, an architect with whom Luis Ferreira Alves worked closely throughout his career, alongside Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Bilingual publication with international distribution
One of the highlights of the session was the presentation of the publication Prémio Luis Ferreira Alves | Edição 2025 (Luis Ferreira Alves Award | 2025 Edition) by the award coordinator and editor, architect Pedro Leão Neto. This is a bilingual (Portuguese-English) curatorial work that brings together the distinguished photographic series, accompanied by critical essays and reflections on architecture.
The result of a partnership between scopio Editions and the Spanish publisher Turner, the book guarantees wide international distribution, reinforcing the ambition to project the award to new audiences and geographies.
Award ceremony and jury's voice
This was followed by the presentation of the awards to the winners, attended by representatives of the sponsors: Filipa Varela, representing CIN (1st Prize); Ana Feijó Cunha, representing BPI/Fundação “la Caixa” (2nd Prize); and Maria Barreiro, representing Canon Portugal (3rd Prize).
Before the exhibition opened to the public, photographer Hélène Binet, representing the jury, shared a critical review of the winning works and the relevance of the award, emphasising the importance of photographic series that, in addition to their aesthetic quality, reveal narrative strength, consistency and critical reflection on architecture.
Exhibition open until 31 October
The exhibition, now open at the Antiga Casa da Câmara, in Terreiro da Sé, will run until 31 October 2025. It brings together the award-winning and distinguished series, contextualised with critical texts, offering the public an immersion in architectural photography as an instrument of cultural and social reflection.
The choice of venue reinforces the symbolic dimension of the event, bringing Luis Ferreira Alves' legacy closer to the architectural tradition of the city and the work of Fernando Távora, a master with whom he worked continuously, alongside Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura.
A network of institutional partnerships
The Luis Ferreira Alves Award is promoted under an agreement between the photographer's heirs and the competition organisers — Porto City Council (CMP) and Cityscopio – Cultural Association (CCA).
It also has the institutional support of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP), the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), the Marques da Silva Foundation Institute (FIMS), the Order of Architects (OA) and the House of Architecture – Portuguese Centre for Architecture (strategic partner of the competition).
The project is also sponsored by CIN, BPI/Fundação “la Caixa” and Canon, and has Metro do Porto, Panoramah! and AMAG as communication partners.
A platform for memory and the future
With 1,495 entries from 99 countries, the first edition of the Luis Ferreira Alves Award established itself as an international platform for critical reflection on architecture through photography.
More than a gesture of homage, this cultural initiative extends the legacy of Luis Ferreira Alves, a photographer and humanist who projected Portuguese architecture beyond borders, while inaugurating a space for thought and debate with its own identity and ambition.
LFA WEBSITE
SIGARRA U.PORTO NEW