ArQuiteCtos, artistas e artesãos da casamarela
Inês regato
architecture project
Inês Regato was born in 1984 and lived in Alentejo until 2002, the year she enrolled at the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Lisbon, where she completed her degree in Architecture.
She completed her Internship for Admission to the Order of Architects and worked in architectural studios until 2015, the year she founded Inês Regato – Architecture, Interiors and Design. She currently lives in Lisbon and focuses mainly on residential and hospitality projects.
Beyond Architecture, she is interested in Music, Fashion, Painting, and the creative field in general. She appreciates the simplicity of natural materials and develops her projects with a focus on precision and attention to detail, creating bespoke solutions for each one. She approaches every project as unique, exploring its narrative to craft exclusive solutions tailored to each context and client.
STUDIO ASTOLFI
Architecture, interiors, and decoration project
Joana Astolfi (b. Lisbon, 1975) is an architect, artist, and designer who draws visual inspiration from a wide universe of found objects and artifacts, with a particular focus on history and narrative. She treats a space as something alive, as an active participant in the human drama. Her work stems from a deep sensitivity to the evolving identity of each place over time, its web of relationships with the people who inhabit it, and all the stories that unfold within it. For Astolfi, architectural and interior design renovations are like resurrections: she aims to breathe new life into each project and set the stage for stories yet to unfold, while keeping the richness of the past alive.
Astolfi completed her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in England, graduating with Distinction. She lived and worked for twelve years outside her native Portugal, including extended periods in London, Italy, Munich, and Los Angeles. During two years in Venice, she was part of the team at the FABRICA Creative Research Centre.
GRUPO NORMA
project execution
Grupo Norma’s mission is to simplify the process by developing architectural and design projects, combining planning and construction.
Procuramos ir de encontro ao mais pequeno detalhe apresentando, ao nosso cliente, projectos identitários, de forma simples, clara e eficaz, cumprindo as intenções e os prazos acordados.
In today’s landscape, Grupo Norma is acutely aware of the gap that often exists between designer and builder. For this reason, we strive to simplify the process by providing a solution: aligning the architectural design with the construction project to significantly reduce the differences between the final outcome and the intentions and desires of each client. To achieve this, Grupo Norma relies on a large team of skilled technical professionals and designers.
Fabricaal
mat
Intertwined with Portugal’s cultural heritage, Fabricaal’s wool blankets are made from Merino sheep that roam the rural beauty of Alentejo.
Bold, with clean, colorful lines, Fabricaal’s rugs and blankets are produced using techniques developed as far back as the 16th century, yet they adapt surprisingly well to modern homes. Made through a traditional weaving process, the wool threads are passed through a loom in a handcrafted practice that continues today to ensure the sustainability and preservation of the region’s finest craftsmanship.
Made in a variety of colors and patterns, the rugs are consistent in thickness—some feature fringes. Highly versatile, these rugs brighten a dark corner, create a striking hallway, add style to a small bathroom, enhance the drama of a living room, or provide the finishing touches to a bedroom. Placed on wood, stone, or carpeted floors, these rugs are designed to stand out. You can also accessorize with cushion covers, poufs, footrests—and even bags and MacBook sleeves.
Inherently part of the fabric of Alentejo’s wool history, the region has been known for wool production since the 16th century onward. The tightly woven, warm material was ideal for shepherds who had to endure cold winters while tending their Merino sheep flocks.
Although the wool mills have been owned over the decades by a variety of artisans, today the Portuguese trio António Carreteiro, Luís Peixe, and Margarida Adónis represent the new generation of the Alentejo wool factory, which continues to produce blankets and rugs using traditional methods, preserving this skilled, unique regional craftsmanship. The innovation lies in the blankets, where customers can personalize their own products, making them perfect for contemporary homes.
Invest in a handcrafted piece from Fabricaal that will elevate your interior design while supporting the enduring craft traditions of Alentejo.
PROVITRAL
stained glass
Founded in 2001 by Fernando Joaquim Marques da Silva, the Provitral – stained glass studio was born from a passion for the art of stained glass and a desire to preserve and innovate this artistic tradition. Based in Alvarelhos, in the municipality of Trofa, the company started as a sole proprietorship and is now a limited liability company, remaining true to its artisanal roots.
The Founder
A native of Alvarelhos, Fernando Silva began his work in the art of stained glass in 1996. He holds both the Artisan Certificate and the Certificate of Artisanal Production Unit, each recognized by the National Commission for the Promotion of Crafts and Artisanal Microenterprises. With specialized training in Escola de les Arts del Vidre, from the Fundació Centre del Vidre de Barcelona, he deepened his knowledge in various traditional and contemporary techniques of stained glass art.
A Artista Residente
Since the founding of Provitral, the artist Albina Cunha has closely followed the company’s development. With a unique sensitivity, she interprets clients’ desires and tastes, proposing creative and personalized solutions that result in exclusive pieces tailored to each space.
At Provitral, tradition and innovation go hand in hand, reflected in works that highlight light, color, and the artistic expression of stained glass, always with a strong commitment to quality and artisanal authenticity.
Bordallo pinheiro
decorative pieces
Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro was born in 1846 in Lisbon, where he spent much of his life. From a young age, he showed a talent for drawing and began his artistic journey collaborating with newspapers and magazines as a caricaturist, becoming one of the most prominent figures in 19th-century Portuguese satirical press.
Throughout his career, he stood out for creating iconic characters, such as Zé Povinho, a symbol of the Portuguese people and their critical spirit. He also worked as an illustrator, decorator, ceramist, and journalist, developing a vast body of work deeply connected to the political and social realities of his time.
In 1884, he founded the Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas da Rainha, where he applied his creativity to ceramics, creating innovative pieces strongly inspired by nature and popular life. The factory became a landmark in the history of Portuguese ceramics and remains active today, preserving the irreverent spirit of its founder.
He lived with deep civic and cultural engagement and took an interest in areas such as politics, literature, and social critique. His artistic approach was characterized by attention to detail, humor, and keen observation of Portuguese society.
He passed away in 1905 in Lisbon. His work continues to be celebrated and studied, represented in numerous collections and institutions, with particular emphasis on the Museu Bordalo Pinheiro in Lisbon, which preserves his artistic and intellectual legacy.
josé franco
decorative pieces | ceramics
José Franco was born in 1920 in the village of Sobreiro, in Mafra, an area with strong pottery traditions. The son of potter parents, he grew up in a rural, artisanal environment, immersed in working with clay and community life. He had fifteen siblings and, from an early age, helped produce utilitarian pieces such as platters, jars, plates, and vases, which were sold at local fairs and festivals.
Gradually, he developed a distinctive style, blending popular tradition with a highly personal artistic sensibility. He began by selling his pieces at the door of his family’s pottery and later transported them by donkey to local markets. Over the years, his talent gained recognition, and he expanded his production to decorative and artistic pieces, always maintaining a strong connection to his popular roots.
In the 1960s, he realized his most emblematic project: the construction of the Aldeia Típica de José Franco in Sobreiro. This space, which recreates a Portuguese village in miniature, became a living tribute to rural culture and traditional crafts. Combining ceramics, sculpture, and popular architecture, it has become a notable cultural and tourist landmark.
He was interested in everyday life, rural traditions, and the value of collective memory. His work is characterized by a deep respect for Portuguese identity and a desire to preserve a simple way of life connected to the land and traditional crafts.
He passed away in 2009, but his legacy remains alive in the heritage he left behind, particularly in the Aldeia Típica, which continues to be visited by thousands of people every year. His work is now recognized as a valuable testament to Portuguese popular culture.
Felipa Almeida
decorative pieces | ceramics – Cestas Verguinhas | books
Felipa Almeida was born in Lisbon in 1979 and has dedicated her career to promoting Portuguese culture through art, craftsmanship, and curatorship. Her background in Art History, Curatorial Studies, Design History, and Anthropology reflects her multidisciplinary interests and the care with which she approaches each project.
She lived and worked abroad for several years, an experience that profoundly influenced her aesthetic and conceptual approach. She returned to Portugal in 2006 and founded her creative studio in Lisbon, where she develops projects that intersect tradition, memory, and cultural identity.
She works in curatorship, art direction, and the production of craft and antique collections, fostering collaborations with Portuguese artists and artisans. Her editions are conceived as unique pieces, tailored to each context and created with deep respect for local techniques and histories.
Twice a year, she organizes pop-ups in her studio, where she invites creators to develop new pieces in response to specific themes. These events become opportunities for creative exchange, celebration of authenticity, and appreciation of handmade craftsmanship.
Surrounded by books, objects, and references accumulated over time, Felipa works between past and present, creating projects imbued with strong symbolic and emotional significance. Her career reflects a constant commitment to the preservation and reinvention of Portuguese material culture.
CASA CUBISTA
decorative pieces | ceramics
Casa Cubista was founded in 2016 in Olhão, a vibrant fishing village on the Algarve coast, born from a happy coincidence and the desire to share with the world the pieces we design and discover in Portugal. The name ‘Cubista’ is inspired by the unique architecture of Olhão’s old town, characterized by whitewashed and tiled buildings with geometric forms, evoking a distinct cubist style.
Founded with a collaborative spirit and a deep connection to local craftsmanship, Casa Cubista develops contemporary collections that honor traditional techniques. Each piece is carefully designed with attention to detail and produced in partnership with Portuguese artisans, using materials such as ceramics, wood, textiles, and iron.
The project combines modern design with traditional knowledge, resulting in home objects that are functional, authentic, and full of personality. The inspiration comes from daily life, the colors and textures of southern Portugal, and the desire to breathe new life into traditional forms and patterns.
In addition to its own production, Casa Cubista also acts as a curator of artisanal pieces, bringing together under one brand the work of various local creators and workshops. Its collections are sold internationally and featured in stores and interior design projects across multiple countries.
With its creative headquarters in Olhão, it continues to grow while staying true to its roots: a love for Portugal, for the art of craftsmanship, and for the imperfect beauty of handmade work.