Carrilho da Graça is an architect, graduated from the School of Fine Arts in Lisbon in 1977, when he started his professional career. He worked as an assistant at the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Lisbon from 1977 to 1992. He was a professor at the Autonomous University of Lisbon from 2001 to 2010 and at the University of Évora since 2005. He was also the coordinator of the Department of Architecture at both institutions until 2010. He has been a visiting professor at the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra in 2005, 2007, and 2010. He has been invited to seminars and conferences at various universities and international institutions. He has received several awards for his work, including the title of "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" from the French Republic in 2010, the "Prémio Pessoa" in 2008, the Prize of the International Biennial of Light - Luzboa in 2004, the Order of Merit of the Portuguese Republic in 1999, and the "AICA - International Association of Art Critics" award in 1992. He was awarded the "Piranesi Prix de Rome" in 2010 for the musealization of the archaeological area of Praça Nova do Castelo de São Jorge, the "Fad" Prize in 1999, and the "Valmor" Prize in 1998 for the Pavilion of Knowledge of the Seas - EXPO'98. He also received the "Secil Architecture Prize" in 1994 for the School of Social Communication in Lisbon, and was nominated for the European Architecture Prize "Mies van der Rohe" in 1990, 1992, 1994, 2009, 2010, and 2011, this year for the pedestrian bridge over Ribeira da Carpinteira and for the musealization of the archaeological area of Praça Nova do Castelo de São Jorge.