The Bolhão Market redevelopment project by architect Nuno Valentim, a professor at FAUP, has been awarded the Urban Land Institute Prize, which aims to recognize excellence in land use practices in the private, public and non-profit sectors.

After being recognized by the Urban Land Institute at a European level, the rehabilitation work on the Bolhão Market has now been distinguished as one of the "six most impressive projects in the world" in the same institute's Global Excellence Awards. The projects were assessed by a jury made up of experts in real estate and land use, in areas such as development, finance, planning, urban design, architecture and landscape architecture.

Since 1979, the Urban Land Institute has sought to recognize and reward excellence in land use practices in the private, public and non-profit sectors that prove to be excellent environmental examples.

The program evaluates based on overall excellence, including components such as market acceptance, design, planning, technology, amenities, economic impact, management, community involvement, innovation or sustainability.

In addition to the Bolhão Market, the Urban Land Institute has recognized the Aurora Bridge Bioswales in the United States, the Canadian Ironworks building, the National University of Singapore, the Nightingale Village affordable housing buildings in Australia and the "Scholen van Morgen" school infrastructure in Flanders, Belgium.

Designed by professor and architect Nuno Valentim, the Bolhão Market rehabilitation project is a paradigmatic case of intervention, restoration and conservation of built heritage, introducing new contemporary demands for accessibility, comfort and transparency in the relationship with the surrounding urban structure. It should be remembered that the Bolhão building and market was originally designed in 1914-1917 by the architect António Correia da Silva.

It should be remembered that the Bolhão Market redevelopment project has already won several awards, including the National Urban Rehabilitation Award (with distinction in the areas of best commercial and service use intervention, best structural rehabilitation and best intervention in the city of Porto), SIL Imobiliário (Best Urban Rehabilitation/Commerce, Services and Offices) and Construir (Best Rehabilitation Project and Best Commerce and Services Space).

In addition to these distinctions, it won a Graphis silver design award in the United States. It was a finalist for the European Award - Architectural Heritage Intervention l Urban Land Institute.

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