Summary

The ArchLabour team, in collaboration with Estúdio Praia, organised a working visit to the Historical Overseas Archive (Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino) in Lisbon, as part of the Final Architecture Project Laboratory at Iscte, coordinated by Professor Mónica Pacheco. Entitled The Archive as a Design Tool: Architecture, Territory and Infrastructure in Cape Verde, the session was held in conjunction with the lecture series Archives, Architecture and Knowledge, organised by the Historical Overseas Archive and the National Archive of Torre do Tombo.

During a full morning, students explored archival documents relating to the territory of Cape Verde, including urban plans, architectural projects, construction materials, hydraulic infrastructure, port facilities and water supply systems. The materials offered insights into the planning and transformation of Cape Verdean settlements, particularly the city of Praia, as well as the technical, human and material networks involved in the development of the archipelago’s built environment.

Bringing together researchers, teachers and students, the visit provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on archival research and architectural practice. It also highlighted the archive’s potential as a tool for understanding the historical production of territories and infrastructures, and as a resource for developing new architectural approaches and projects.