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Respect. (from the lat. respectu) n. 1. respect; 2. consideration; high regard; 3. deference; compliance; veneration; 4. honour; worship; 5. relation; refererence...
We believe that everyone should be respected for their work, for their attitudes, opinions and options.
Rigor. (from the lat. rigore) n. 1. harshness; strength; 2.fig., severity; punctuality; accuracy.
There is no "more or less levelled", "more or less upright”, "more or less clean" or "more or less safe", but rather “levelled”, "upright”, "clean” and “safe". The rigour is reflected in our procedures, in time and in the rules to follow. In the light of moral and principles, being severe means being rigorous.
Passion. (from the lat. passione) n. 1. intense and usually violent feeling (affection, joy, hate, etc.) which hinders the exercise of impartial logic; 2. derived from a feeling; 3. great predilection; 4. partiality; 5. great grief; immense suffering...
Under the sign of passion – a text of the Portuguese poet Regina Guimarães – is our icon. Passion is to reveal great enthusiasm for something, favourable encouragement or opposite to something.
It is the sensibility transmitted by an architect or engineer through work.
Passion is the dedication to a project. Passion is a state of warm soul.
Loyalty. (from the lat. legalitate) n. the quality of being loyal; fidelity; sincerity.
Respect for the principles and rules that guide the honour and probity. Faithfulness to commitments and agreements undertaken, staunch character.
To remain loyal to the business partners because we depend on them and they depend on us.
Being trustworthy for being loyal.
Solidarity. (from the lat. solidare) n. 1. the quality of being solidary; 2. reciprocal responsibility among the members of a group, namely social, professional, etc.; 3. sense of sharing another’s suffering.
Being solidary is being a friend, offering our hand with genuine generosity and bringing joy and human warmth to those who, somehow, are marginalized. Being solidary is being more human. A solidary company is recognized as a fair and non-selfish company. A solidary company is a preferred choice in business. It is a more competitive company. Volunteering is a vehicle to solidarity. It is modern, fair, cultured, friend, it is a noble gesture of moral elevation.
Courage. (from the lat. coraticum) n. 1. bravery facing danger; intrepidity; to have audacity; 2. moral force before a suffering or setback; 3. [fig.] to input energy when performing a difficult task; perseverance...
Courage is essential in our life. Courage to face less pleasant situations when complex issues come up, not expecting random resolutions.
It is a value that we must highlight as opposed to the fearful, cowardly and laziness.
The courage to react to criticism not with an attitude of demotivation or sadness, but rather to search for the means and the action to overcome its own reason. This kind of courage, which is also an intellectual courage, is highly recommended.
Ambition. (from the lat. ambitione) n. 1. vehement desire of wealth, honours or glories; 2. expectation about the future; aspiration; 3. lust; greed…
Vehement desire to achieve a particular goal. Ambition not to resign ourselves. Ambition to take the best potential from ourselves. Ambition to deserve ourselves. Ambition to be athletes in our top-level competitive jobs. Ambition to beat our brands. Ambition to get the best deals with the maximum value, due to the high levels of proficiency and efficiency.
Esthetics. ESTHETICS (from the Greek aisthetiké, "sensitive") n.f. 1. Philosophy branch of philosophy that studies the beauty and nature of artistic phenomena; 2. author's own style, time, etc.; 3. harmony of shapes and colors, beauty; 4. set of techniques and treatments that aim to beautify the body.
We decided to build the company's economic foundations under a cultured, cosmopolitan and cool image. Because it is a charming state of being. Good taste because we are sustainable and we respect the planet. Good taste because we are sensitive. Good taste just because.
Responsibility. (from the lat respondere) n. the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct; a form of trustworthiness.
We must be certain that, before a choice, we chose what is best for both of us and not just the best for each one. Each employee is responsible for his negotiated activity and co-responsible if the co-worker does not fulfil his own task, thus preventing the common goal. A team is a set of individuals - is a whole. In the business game, as in social or family contexts, everyone must comply with their own relative position and we shall not permit that one of ours fails to be in our team.
Expresso
AT THE REAL ESTATE AWARDS GALA, 21 AWARDS WERE MADE TO WORKS RANGING FROM SUSTAINABILITY TO PUBLIC SPACES.
Mafra Convent was the venue chosen to host the gala for the sixth edition of the Real Estate Awards, organized by Expresso and SIC Notícias. The event took place on the 24th of last month and honoured the best projects implemented in 2023. The 72 applications submitted in this edition, spread geographically across the mainland and the islands, applied to the eight categories assessed in this competition and 21 awards were presented at the gala.
This year’s edition included the following categories: sustainability; innovation in construction; projects with an economic, social and environmental impact; innovation in mediation; public spaces; new construction development projects for housing, tourism, offices and industry/logistics; refurbishment and reconstruction in housing, offices, tourism and public spaces/cultural heritage; and interior architecture for housing, tourism and offices. SIC Esperança once again allied itself with this initiative by awarding a prize to a charity. The jury also awarded two honourable mentions and the prestige prize, chosen from the evening’s winners, was awarded for the first time to two works.
Aliados 9, in Porto, received the prestige award ex aequo. In addition to this honour, it won in the category of refurbishment and reconstruction — housing and interior architecture — housing, making it the most awarded work of the night. “This is a building which is about 100 years old, designed and thought up by the architect Marques da Silva, a noteworthy person in the city of Porto. We put it to a different use than it was originally designed for, and it went from being office to housing space,” explained Pedro Reforço, a partner at Lace, the developer for Aliados 9, during the gala. In the works carried out on this property, with architectural design from the Menos é Mais atelier, the façade, the staircase and the ornamentation of the communal spaces were kept. The houses retain details from another era, mixed with more contemporary elements. For Pedro Reforço, the distinctions achieved in these Real Estate Awards are a recognition of the “effort and dedication of the work of everyone involved in this process.”
Like Aliados 9, Infinity in Lisbon was also honoured with the prestige award. It also won in the new-build development category — housing. According to Pedro Aguardela, project director of Vanguard Properties, the developer for Infinity, with this project they wanted to “make a mark on the housing scene in Lisbon. Its transparency and height allow you to enjoy the view of the city.” Infinity is a glazed tower designed by the Saraiva&Associados atelier, which includes almost two hundred flats and communal spaces. At the gala, Pedro Aguardela said that the awards it had received “recognize Vanguard Properties’ commitment to trying to do something different and these motivate us to keep on.”
Keep growing.
The Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, attended the event. He said that “we have to get used to giving awards to what we do well, and SIC Notícias and Expresso have done that.” He also pointed out that “at a time when housing is in crisis, we need more housing and we can only do this by uniting around a common strategy: more supply so that we can also increase demand, so that we can guarantee everyone the home they wish to have.”
Francisco Pedro Balsemão, CEO of the Impresa group, drew attention at the gala to the growth registered in this edition, which involved 18 more projects up for awards than last year. “This demonstrates the work done to publicize this initiative. The geographical diversity of the works submitted is particularly important because we have always wanted these awards to be decentralized,” he emphasized. The goal for 2025 is to continue to grow and innovate within the categories, in a sector that is known for its dynamism.
For João Vieira Pereira, director of Expresso, the 72 submissions in this edition show that “the sector is alive and growing.” However, there are problems that persist and which, in his opinion, are not easy to solve, particularly the lack of housing supply for certain social classes and this is a job that needs to be done, not only by the Government, but also by the sector’s stakeholders. He added during the gala that these awards, due to their geographical dispersion, show “that there are fantastic projects all over the mainland and islands.”
Vítor Andrade has chaired the Real Estate Awards jury since the first edition. In his opinion, “from year to year, the quality of the projects entering the competition has systematically increased,” which once again did not make the jury’s task any easier when it came to selecting the best of 2023. Fernando de Almeida Santos joined Vítor Andrade, Patrícia Viana, Célia Gomes, Eric Van Leuven, Hugo Santos Ferreira, Paulo Caiado, Paulo Tormenta Pinto, Manuel Reis Campos, Alberto Jorge Torres, Jorge Bota, Luís Rosado, Avelino Oliveira and João Paulo Luz in assessing the works vying for the awards. This jury is made up of personalities from the property sector and selects the best projects each year.
COFICAB NEW INDUSTRY/LOGISTICS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
GUARDA This industrial complex consists of two buildings, a factory dedicated to the production of cables for the automotive sector, and a centre of excellence for innovation. Developed by the Coficab Group, the architecture is by João Madalena and the engineering by Enforce and Isotropia.
SIC ESPERANÇAACREDITAR HOUSE LISBON
Created in 2003 with 12 rooms, this house was recently extended and can now accommodate 32 displaced families with children undergoing cancer treatment in the capital. Owned by Acreditar — the Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Cancer, it welcomes children up to the age of 18 and young adults up to the age of 25 free of charge.
HONOURABLE MENTION BLACK BOX LEIRIA
Located in the city’s historic centre, this space occupies the premises of former cinema auditoriums that had been closed down. Designed by the atelier Carrilho da Graça Arquitetos, this cultural facility, created by the local authority, includes a black box with a capacity for 116 spectators, a control room, dressing rooms and a rehearsal room.
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE EY PORTUGAL OFFICES The consultancy company’s new headquarters in the capital are housed in the Allo building. The interiors were designed by Broadway Malyan and built by Vector Mais. It occupies four floors that pay homage to the city of Lisbon and its neighbourhoods and excels for the diversity of its spaces.
REFURBISHMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION TOURISM MONTEBELO VISTA ALEGRE LISBON CHIADO HOTEL
This is the result of the refurbishment of the Vista Alegre Porcelain Factory building. The development was undertaken by Montebelo Hotels&Resorts, the architecture by Tiago Araújo and Paula Nunes and engineering by Edivisa.
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROJECT UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LISBON
Two office buildings gave rise to this student accommodation unit, developed by Lisbon City Council and built by DST.
SUSTAINABILITY THE FIRST GUIMARÃES
This is a pilot for industrialized construction using biomaterials. With a hybrid construction of wood and concrete, it uses sustainable building practices. It was developed by Sunny Casais, with architecture by José Mário Fernandes and engineering by Topbim and Aspect.
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE TOURISM UPON ANGELS
This Lisbon hotel, part of the StayUpon chain of the Libertas Group, with interiors by Mariana Torrão, wanted to capture the essence of the Anjos neighbourhood and turn it into a hospitality experience. It has an intimate atmosphere.
REFURBISHMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC FACILITES /CULTURAL HERITAGE ALEXANDRE HERCULANO SECONDARY SCHOOL
Go Porto, with architecture by Atelier 15, modernized this listed building in Porto, managing to make changes and create new rooms without distorting its identity.
INNOVATION IN CONSTRUCTION CÂNHAMOR
Located in the Baixo Alentejo, Cânhamor (hemp) wants to revolutionize materials, methods and the construction sector itself. The hemp blocks it produces are non-structural blocks that combine insulation and masonry into one unit. These provide a solution when high thermal, acoustic and fire resistance and natural humidity regulation are required.
REFURBISHMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OFFICES MB4 — OFFICE BUILDING The renovation of this building, located in Lisbon, was based on its identity along with its material aspects. The design of the spaces was undertaken with the entry of natural light in mind along with a commitment to sustainability to make the property more efficient. The development was undertaken by the Fidera Group, the architecture was by Savills Portugal and engineering by Portico.
HONOURABLE MENTION ALENQUER MUNICIPAL MARKET
The intervention works carried out on this building dating from 1949 have maintained its design and created new spaces inside. With this project, with architect and engineering by Beabstract, the local authority also wanted to turn the market into an attractive and multifunctional centre for temporary cultural activities.
REFURBISHMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION — HOUSING; INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE — HOUSING AND PRESTIGE AWARD ALIADOS 9
Located on one of Porto’s most emblematic streets, Avenida dos Aliados, this project is the result of the refurbishment of the “A Nacional” building, built at the beginning of the 20th century. Its use was changed from offices to housing, and it has maintained commercial activity on the ground floor and basement. Developed by LACE Investments Partners, it has architecture by the Menos é Mais atelier and engineering by Adão da Fonseca. The works have maintained its aesthetics, as well as the staircase, floors and other former details.
NEW-BUILD DEVELOPMENT — HOUSING AND PRESTIGIOUS AWARD INFINITY
Residential in character, this glazed tower, through its scale, has marked the capital’s built landscape. The 26-storey building houses 195 flats ranging from studio flats to 6-bedroom flats. The communal areas include an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a spa, with surrounding green areas and a paddle tennis court. The reception area features a piece by the artist Joana Vasconcelos. The development was undertaken by Vanguard Properties and the architecture by Saraiva&Associados.
NEW-BUILD DEVELOPMENT TOURISM VERDELAGO
This five-star Algarve resort includes villas, flats, leisure areas and nature trails. It was developed by Verdelago, with architecture by Saraiva&Associados and engineering by A400.
INNOVATION IN VIRTUAL AGENT MEDIATION
This innovative technological project was created by the real estate company Christie’s Front Door. Using artificial intelligence, this virtual agent is able to interact with clients, providing real-time information on properties and generating leads.
NEW-BUILD OFFICE DEVELOPMENT MARIA DO ALÍVIO GONÇALVES TEIXEIRA BUILDING
Located in the DST Group Production Centre in Braga, it has two floors. It was designed by the architect Nuno Capa, who created a scenic space in which to work.
PUBLIC SPACE CONGIDA NATURAL COMPLEX
The river beach at Congida, in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, has been refurbished by the local authority, with architecture by Nelson Madeira. It has a beach football and volleyball pitch, a sandy beach, improved street furniture, a swimming pool, a children’s playground and a terrace.