Profile

António Ressano Garcia Lamas is a retired Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, where he developed his entire academic and scientific career in the field of Civil Engineering. He earned his PhD in Structures from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London (1979), and his Habilitation in Civil Engineering from IST (1984). He is distinguished for his scientific excellence and his innovative vision in bridging engineering, territory, and heritage.

Founder and first coordinator of the Degree in Territorial Engineering (until 1996) and one of the main proponents of the Degree in Architecture (1998) at IST, he demonstrated an interdisciplinary and pioneering spirit by integrating Civil Engineering with Heritage Studies and Urban Rehabilitation.

He has held several high-level positions in public and cultural institutions, notably as President of the Portuguese Institute for Cultural Heritage (1987–1990), Parques de Sintra–Monte da Lua (2006–2014), the Centro Cultural de Belém Foundation (2014–2016), and the Lisbon Urban Rehabilitation Company (2022–2023). His work has been marked by the ability to design and implement innovative projects with significant cultural and social impact.

His international recognition is reflected in roles such as Chair of the Selection Committee of the European Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards (2022–2023), member of the Final Jury (2024), and member of the Advisory Board of the European Heritage Hub (since 2023). He also serves as Chair of the Gulbenkian Heritage Award – Maria Tereza and Vasco Vilalva Prize since its creation.

Among his distinctions are the title of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique (2014), the Special Mention for Dedication Service to Heritage from the Europa Nostra Awards (2021), and the Gold Medal of the Municipality of Sintra (2012), all testifying the prestige and impact of a career dedicated to the promotion of Portuguese heritage and culture.