Inês Vieira da Silva and Miguel Vieira, professors at Instituto Superior Técnico, are among the 22 winners (from 14 countries) of the RIBA International Award for Excellence 2024. Representing SAMI-arquitectos, the awarded project was carried out in the Azores Wine Company winery, on Pico island, in collaboration with DRDH-Architects.

The building, classified as “exemplar in its relation to the setting”, is inspired by nature and built from the lava rocks that form the winery’s artificial terraces. In a context where growing grapes in a wind-swept volcanic environment becomes a major challenge, visitors can learn about the winery’s production processes and the industrial function of the building, designed along a route that interprets and illustrates cultivation.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Award honours buildings from around the world that demonstrate design excellence and meaningful social impact. “Irrespective of style, complexity and size of both scheme and budget, successful projects demonstrate visionary or innovative thinking and excellence of execution. Winners then go on to be considered for the RIBA International Prize in our search of the world’s most transformative new building”, the award’s website says.