Maria João Almada Cardoso (1939–2025)

It is with great sadness that Docomomo Portugal received the news that architect Maria João Cardoso passed away last December 11.

A singular female figure of Modern Movement architecture in Portugal, Maria João Cardoso, was “a dedicated, discreet architect deeply committed to improving the built environment and preserving heritage”.

As written in the notice published by the Madeira Regional Section of the Order of Architects, “her professional career left a significant mark on heritage rehabilitation, urban planning, and the creation of landmark cultural facilities in mainland Portugal and Madeira.”

Graduated in architecture from the Lisbon School of Fine Arts (ESBAL) in 1973 and Maria João Cardoso began her activity before 1974, working on the restoration of historic villages under the Rural Well-Being program. She later joined the services of Lisbon City Council before moving to the newly created EPUL, where she took part in major urban projects, including the Telheiras neighborhood, co-authored with architect Duarte Nuno Simões.

During the 1980s and 1990s, she stood out in Madeira, coordinating the urban regeneration project of the Ilhéu of Câmara de Lobos and playing a central role in the design and expansion of the Frederico de Freitas House-Museum, in collaboration with Gastão Salgado da Cunha. The first phase was inaugurated in 1988, and the second was completed in 1999, including the construction of the Tile House and the expansion of exhibition and service areas.

In addition to these larger-scale projects, she developed extensive work in private housing, with a particular focus on the rehabilitation and expansion of buildings – an area in which she was distinguished by her sensitivity to context, attention to detail, and rigor in design.

Notice by the Order of Architects published on Facebook