USJ’s Prof. Nuno Soares and Prof. Filipa Simões Invited to Give Special Lecture at the China Academy of Art
USJ’s Prof. Nuno Soares and Prof. Filipa Simões Invited to Give Special Lecture at the China Academy of Art
08
Apr
08/04/2025
The School of Architecture of the China Academy of Art (CAA) hosted a special lecture by Prof. Nuno Soares and Prof. Filipa Simões titled “Additive City: Tracing Macau’s Urban Evolution”.
Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design, and Prof. Filipa Simões, Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Design, were invited by CAA’s School of Architecture – under the direction of Dean Wang Shu, the first Chinese architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize – to deliver the lecture on the 28th of March in Hangzhou, China.
Prof. Nuno Soares traced Macao’s urban evolution from 1557 to 2022, from its early small settlements to becoming the world’s most densely populated territory. His lecture explored how heritage, rapid globalisation, and high-density development intersected, transforming Macao into one of Asia’s most complex urban laboratories. As a key figure in Macao’s architectural and urban discourse, Prof. Soares examined the city’s pattern of successive additions, which shaped its unique urban fabric.
Following this, Prof. Filipa Simões discussed her research on mapping street art across Macao, demonstrating how these ephemeral artworks can serve as a powerful tool for urban revitalisation. Prof. Filipa highlighted street art as a dynamic lens for exploring cities – not only preserving urban culture but also shaping a place’s distinct identity. This research by Prof. Filipa Simões culminated in the project “Guide to Street Art in Macau”, launched in May 2024 by CURB – Centre for Architecture and Urbanism.
China Academy of Art’s Xiangshan campus, where the School of Architecture is located, was designed by the Wang Shu and Wenyu Lu’s Amateur Architecture Studio. The Academy has been at the forefront of the artistic world in pursuit of its historical purpose and obligation to reinvigorate Chinese art.
