The Vilalva Prize was established by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in 2005 in honour of Vasco Vilalva, a patron to whom the country owes a great deal in the field of heritage restoration and enhancement.

The Prize seeks to recognise outstanding and exemplary interventions in the conservation, restoration, enhancement, or promotion of Portuguese heritage, particularly immovable or movable assets of cultural value, with the aim of encouraging their preservation and rehabilitation.

It is awarded through an annual competition.

Vasco Maria Eugénio de Almeida, Count of Vilalva – commonly known as Vasco Vilalva – was a man of strong Christian and humanist convictions, marked by remarkable philanthropic dedication. He was deeply engaged with educational, social, and regional concerns, and recognised culture as a driving force for development, particularly in the Alentejo region.

He was also the former owner of Parque Santa Gertrudes in Lisbon, the site that today houses the main building and museums of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

The Gulbenkian Heritage Prize – Maria Tereza and Vasco Vilalva is valued at €50,000 (fifty thousand euros).

The winner of the Gulbenkian Heritage Prize – Maria Tereza and Vasco Vilalva is chosen by the Board of Trustees of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, based on a proposal prepared by the Prize Jury.

Eligible interventions include:

• projects involving assets of unquestionable cultural value;
• projects that propose adaptation and reuse (e.g., landscaping, museum use, or other) when the asset’s function or purpose changes;
• projects carried out by teams led by professionals with legally recognised qualifications.

Interventions concerning assets owned by the State, including local municipalities, may only be considered if these assets are leased or concessioned to private entities.

Applications are assessed on the basis of:

• the added value and preservation of an asset of recognised cultural significance;
• the careful application of recommendations and best practices;
• the representative impact of the project in stimulating interest in the rehabilitation of Portuguese heritage.

Current European-level priorities in heritage enhancement include:

• mitigating the effects of climate change on heritage interventions without compromising identity and values;
• using technologies compatible with historic buildings;
• promoting energy efficiency through innovative solutions;
• integrating heritage creativity into the sustainability discourse;
• collaborating with universities in social, economic, and scientific-technological research for a sustainable environment;
• transferring skills and know-how between generations for heritage conservation;
• involving local communities in opening up and promoting heritage.