João Álvaro Rocha was born in Viana do Castelo in the north coast of Portugal on January 10th, 1959.

Attended the course of Architecture between 1977 and 1982 at the College of Fine Arts in the Porto University, having completed the trainee examination, and subsequently completed the degree in 1986. In 1982, begins his Professional career.

He has had developed an intensive teaching activity, initiated in 1988/89 at the Architecture course of the Superior Artistic School of Porto. From 1990 to 2001, was teacher at the Faculty of Architecture of the Porto University. Taught at several Schools in particular: École d’Architecture de Clermont-Ferrand (1989/90), Escola Superior de Arquitectura de Universidad Internacional de Catalunya (1998/99 -2011/2012), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Navarra (1998/2009), Department of Architecture of Cornell University –

New York (2000), Department of Architecture of Cornell University – Rome (2002), École , d’Árchitecture de Nancy (2002), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona – UPC – FPC (2002), Università Degli Studi Di Palermo – Facoltà di Architettura (2003), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2003), Universidad UPV / EHU San Sebastián (2003), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Granada (2004), Università degli Studi di Cagliari (2010/2011). Actually is Invited Associate Professor at the Superior Technical School of Architecture of Navarra.

His work has been awarded several times, in particular: National Award of Architecture – First Works (Portuguese Association of Architects-1993), Architect Award / Centro Cultural de Belém-1994, AIA CE DESIGN AWARD – 2001 (AIA – American Institute of Architects), Vale da Gândara Architecture Award – 2004-05, (Cerâmica Vale da Gândara and Architects Portuguese Order-2005), Finalist of the Iberfad / Alejandro de La Sota Awards, Barcelona, in 1996, 2000 and 2002, Finalist of the VI Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture, Barcelona-1999, Competition Mention of “Experiencias de cambio y tipologías del futuro de la Vivienda Social” (Superior Council of Colleges of Architects of Madrid-2003), Special Mention of Jury Award of National Housing Institute-2004, Finalist of Sécil Architecture Award, Portugal -2010 and Special Mention of Jury IHRU, Portugal 2013.

Between 2002 and 2007 he developed an extensive set of urban projects and respective stations for the 1st phase of the Porto Subway. Later, between 2009 and 2010, he developed new projects for the Porto Subway, in particular the stations and respective urban insertions of Campanha/ Gondomar line, in addition to the viability study of Gondomar / House Music line. More recently, in 2011 he develops a study of viability of Surface Light Rail for the city of Cuiabá line in Brazil.

Amongst the numerous architecture competitions in which was awarded he recently obtained (2008) First Place at “Concurso Internacional de Consultoría y Asistencia para la redacción de proyectos de Estaciones del Corredor Ferroviario de la Costa del Sol”, Málaga (COPT – Ferrocarriles de Andalucía).

Currently develops works at Portugal, Republic of Cameroon, Algeria and Angola.