Art and Architecture

The current Archive building, with strong classical features, is divided into two different sections. The main one is composed of four floors occupied by administration, consultation and customer services, containing a reading room, a catalogue room, a lecture room and a temporary exhibitions room. The other section, composed of six floors, works as a depository for the various documents, books and parchments held by the Archive.

According to the estimates made in 1944, which proved to be correct, the building had been designed to receive documentation for a period of 50 years.

Among the large documental heritage stored at the Archive of the University of Coimbra, we should highlight the founding charter of the Portuguese Studium Generale granted by King Dinis, given its historical value.

Proposed Intervention

Erected in the 1940s, the building of the Archive of the University of Coimbra has not undergone any major rehabilitation or renovation since its inauguration.

Maintaining the function for which it was designed, the proposed intervention aims essentially to rehabilitate it in order to improve the functional and energy performance of the building.

All the spurious elements that mar the typological integrity of the building, particularly infrastructure and equipment networks, are to be eliminated.

After deconstruction the area of the top floor, which was expanded later, the garret will be reserved for the technical area.

Technical Document PDF