Manuel Aires Mateus is a central figure within the Portuguese contemporary architecture scene, internationally recognised for his rigorous and minimalist approach. Born in Lisbon in 1963, Aires Mateus graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Technical University of Lisbon and has since developed a remarkable career, both in partnership with his brother, Francisco Aires Mateus, and on his own. His major projects include the Sines Arts Centre, the Musée de L'Elysée and Mudac, the restoration of Mayer Park and the Botanical Garden in Lisbon, and several participations in the Biennale di Venezia.

In recent years, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova has collaborated with the architect on the renovation of the M Wellness Spa and the Restaurant Bar. Many other projects are in development and will soon be coming off the drawing board, the latest of which was announced on 2 October.

As part of the Chopin Piano Concert performed by the Vasco Dantas & Mário Laginha Trio at the estate, Manuel Aires Mateus was asked to design an ephemeral installation that would serve as a stage for the musical moment.

“A mown and baled meadow outlines the enclosure. Everything is earth. Everything is nature. Everything is an opportunity to hear the most beautiful music”. These were the words that accompanied the first sketch of the installation, made from bales of straw from the estate. The proposed architectural gesture is not an invasive element; on the contrary, it is a sensitive response to the site, respecting the identity of the Alentejo and celebrating its natural beauty.

Manuel Aires Mateus' work is characterised by a deep respect for the context and history of the spaces where his projects are located, combining this sensitivity with an innovative and poetic approach to space. His work, often described as an exercise in synthesis, takes on a particularly refined dimension at the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, where time and space take on a different, slower and more contemplative dimension.