Torrão Lab Project with Foundation DaST

100,000

The Torrão Lab is a collaborative research project between XJTLU and Foundation DaST that combines heritage inventory, field-based learning, creative practice, and community engagement in the Portuguese village of Torrão. The project documents architecture, landscapes, and cultural practices to create a living inventory that informs strategies for conservation and regeneration. Annual field trips immerse students and faculty in participatory mapping, co-design, and site-based research, while workshops foster skills exchange in sustainable design, material reuse, and collaborative practices. A dedicated artist residency programme invites international and local artists to work alongside students, researchers, and the community, producing site-specific artworks and cultural interventions that expand the dialogue between art, architecture, and heritage. Complementing these activities, a documentary filmmaking strand led by XJTLU’s Academy of Film and Creative Technology captures the stories, processes, and evolving impact of the Lab. Together, these interconnected strands form a holistic platform where research, art, and community co-creation converge to reimagine sustainable futures for Torrão.