José Maneiras (1935-2025)

It is with deep sadness and profound admiration that Docomomo Portugal gives expression to our sorrow at the passing of the Architect José Maneiras, a seminal figure of Modern Architecture in Macau and a key contributor to the creation of a practice rooted in territory, climate, and community. His work, distinguished by rigour, sensitivity, and an exceptional architectural intelligence, stands as a lasting legacy to a vision that anticipated contemporary concerns long before these were widely recognised.

Deeply committed to elevating the quality of everyday living, José Maneiras skillfully integrated modern construction techniques and materials with a nuanced understanding of Macau’s urban, cultural, and climatic circumstances. He conceived spaces of dignity, environmental responsiveness, and social purpose, where architecture becomes a tool in favour of comfort, interaction, and cultural continuity. His projects reveal an extraordinary ability to engage local characters without diminishing their authenticity or expressive depth.

Beyond his built oeuvre, Maneiras leaves a lasting intellectual and ethical legacy that has influenced several generations through his integrity, his attentiveness to spatial subtleties, and his continuous pursuit of design solutions that bring architecture, community, and well-being into meaningful alignment. We remember him not only as an architect, but as a thinker, a mentor, and a craftsman of futures for generations to come.

To know more about José Maneiras’ work you can read an article published at Docomomo Journal 63 – “Tropical Modernity: A Hybrid-Construct in South China” by Rui Leão and Charles Lai

A news was also published on Macau’s journals Ponto final .