Disciplinary crossing has always determined Mariana Carvalho’s professional practice either in research, in architectural projects, or in the plastic arts. Hence, Mariana’s activity as a researcher and as an architect seeks to articulate the relationship between theory and practice, between the academia and society in order to encourage children’s and adults’ involvement in the co-design of architectural, urban, social, and educational innovative projects. These practices are always based on social participation and social inclusion to contribute to the development of public policies targeted at promoting children’s well-being.

The same will to interrelate diverse knowledge fields is reflected on her academic choices: Mariana holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture (FAUP, 2005), another in Fine Arts – Painting (FBAUP, 2011), a master degree in Architecture (MIARQ-FAUP, 2011), a post-graduation in Architectural Heritage (CEAPA-FAUP, 2012) and a Ph.D in Architecture, with a thesis focused on the practice of drawing as a method of analysis and interpretation. She also attended several professional training workshops, including: Glass/Fusing (CRAT, 2004), and Paper Toys (CEARTE, 2005).

In 2005, Mariana began her professional career at IPPAR, integrating a multidisciplinary team, followed by several collaborations in diverse architecture offices. Between 2008 and 2018, she was a self-employed architect, and also developed other artistic projects in the fields of fine arts and curatorship.