OOAU believes on the strength of collaborative approach to design. A positive outcome is achieved when several key factors are effectively integrated.

The design needs to understand and reflect the owner’s needs and ambitions, enhancing them to achieve the full potential of the operation.

In addition, the project must consider and correctly interpret the guidelines, limitations and opportunities set by regulatory and environmental authorities.

OOAU has produced and participated in designs submitted to Qatar Rail, Grupo Novo Banco Real Estate, Club Med, CM Grândola, CM Benavente, CM Braga, Galp, the Royal Commission of AlUla, NEOM.

The project needs to be developed in a multidisciplinary consultant workflow to minimize the adjustments in later stages and construction. Moreover, the construction methods available locally should be identified and a productive dialog should be established during the design, bidding, or construction of the project.

Using its national and international network, OOAU has participated in, and assembled, teams of consultants specifically tailored to each design challenge, and helped selecting specific suppliers supporting them with direct production files.

In Portugal and abroad, OOAU has worked with A2P Consult, Campo d’Água, Natural Works, ETU - FS Consultants, A400, IDEAM, Quadrante, GEG Engineering, Sidónio Pardal, Resinas Castro, KN Engenharia, QDVC (Qatari Diar/Vinci Constructions), FMC Construction

Besides its own design work, OOAU associates with international and national practices creating complementary synergies that are beneficial for the projects, either as co-designers or as local architect. Some of the project associations and partnerships over the years have been with UNStudio, Zaha Hadid Architects, Campos Costa Arquitetos, Machado Costa Arquitectos, Jason + Tsai Associates.

OOAU uses of a combination of 3dimensional and parametric tools and more traditional tools as sketching, physical modeling and technical drawings, that allow a better and swift communication and coordination with all the parties, from design to construction. The ability to enhance these techniques with the digital programing of customized tools, allows for the production of extremely reliable documents that can oftentimes be used in direct machine production of the designs.

OOAU is supported by a network of highly-skilled professionals that contribute to the quality of the designs it delivers. Regular collaborators have been Veronica Baraldi, Pedro Gomes, Rui de Klerk, Stefano Rocchetti, Pedro Vasconcelos Rodrigues, Patrícia Soares Silva, and Martin Zangerl (Bureau Mach)