Carlos Castanheira, was born in Lisbon in June 1957. Graduated in Architecture from the School of Fine Arts in Porto (1976-1981). He lived in Amsterdam from 1981 to 1990 where he worked as an Architect and studied at the Academie voor Bouwkunst van Amsterdam.

In 1993 he founded the practice Carlos Castanheira & Clara Bastai, Arquitectos Ldªwith the Architect Maria Clara Bastai. Working mainly in the private sector, he has acted as juror on competition panels, participated in conferences, has been involved in setting up Architectural education courses and workshops, has curated and organized exhibitions, and has edited and published books and catalogues.

Since he was a student he has been collaborating with the Architect Álvaro Siza in various projects in Portugal but principally abroad.

Prize for Timber Construction 2005 - AIMMP
National Prize for Architecture in Timber 2011 – AFN/MA