The current architectural practice continues the atelier founded by architect Porfírio Pardal Monteiro, whose work dates back to the early 20th century. Recognised as one of the leading figures of modernism in Portugal, Porfírio developed a vast body of work until he fell ill in September 1956, passing away in December 1957. From that moment on, the direction of the atelier was assumed by his nephew and close collaborator, architect António Pardal Monteiro, responsible for the completion and further development of the projects underway. The practice is currently managed by architect Manuel Pardal Monteiro.
The legacy of Porfírio Pardal Monteiro includes works such as the Maritime Stations of Alcântara (1943) and Rocha do Conde de Óbidos (1948), the Church of Nossa Senhora de Fátima (Valmor Prize 1938), and the Diário de Notícias building (1930s, awarded in 1940), among many others.
After Porfírio’s death, architect António Pardal Monteiro took over the coordination of the Faculties of Law and Arts and the Rectorate of the University of Lisbon, which were already under development. The Rectorate building was redefined to a larger scale with new functionalities, resulting in the current building. The interior design of the Great Hall, Noble Hall, Senate Room, and Rector’s Office was entrusted to Daciano Costa.
In the case of the National Library, António was responsible for all modifications to the original 1953 design, for its execution and for supervising the works until completion. The building was inaugurated in April 1969, sixteen years after the first studies, and stood out for its scale, functional innovation, and interiors, also designed by Daciano Costa. The project was preceded by study visits to European libraries, including those in Lucerne, Lausanne and Bern (Switzerland), Ghent (Belgium), and the National Library of Paris, as well as the archives of Versailles.
Between the late 1950s and February 1986, António Pardal Monteiro was solely responsible for the atelier, designing major projects such as the National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, completed in 1972 and approved without reservations by the World Health Organization, which followed its development. Another important highlight was the expansion of the Instituto Superior Técnico, which included renovations of the original buildings and the construction of new complexes with advanced laboratories of various specialties.
The National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge that in 1968, when the construction of the new facilities was decided, António Pardal Monteiro was requested to do the project’s implementation, which was preceded by a study visit to the time’s most recent European laboratories. The building was completed in 1972, and the project, followed closely by the World Health Organization Commissary’s, received an outspoken approval.
From 1978 onwards, the atelier incorporated architects João Pardal Monteiro and Manuel Pardal Monteiro, who jointly took responsibility for the practice. In February 1986, the company Pardal Monteiro Arquitectos, Lda. was formally established in Lisbon, supported by a technical and administrative team.
Since then, the practice has been involved in significant projects such as the Taguspark Campus of Instituto Superior Técnico, the Research Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases in Águas de Moura, the rehabilitation of the Palácio Flor da Murta and of courthouses in Leiria and Faro, as well as the renovation of the historic Valmor building, now transformed into the Hotel 1908.