Residual Studio
Residual Studio is a Lisbon-based architecture, design and research atelier focused exclusively on sustainability and circular economy, crea…
Renovation & Retrofitting
Breathing new life into what already stands: the schist-village revival of Cerdeira in the Serra da Lousã, cork insulation from Amorim, and bio-architecture studios like Terrapalha. Renovation as the lowest-carbon way to build.
Projects in this focus
Christian Neuner Architecture
Christian Neuner Architecture is an architectural studio based in Lagos, Portugal, specialising in ecological, bioclimatic and health-consci…
Studio Detelic
Studio Detelic is an architecture studio based in Lagos, Algarve, founded in 1996, specialising in residential, hotel, cultural and commerci…
Arcaya
Arcaya is a prime sustainable residential village set on 70 hectares of protected forest landscape in Vilamoura's Golden Triangle, Algarve, …
Aresta Engenharia
Aresta Engenharia is a Portuguese engineering and construction company specialising in bio-construction, urban rehabilitation, and sustainab…
Terrapalha
Terrapalha is a natural building architecture studio founded in 2008 by architect Catarina Pinto, based in Sintra and the Alentejo coast, sp…
Amorim Cork Insulation
Amorim Cork Insulation is a Portuguese company specialising in natural cork-based insulation products for sustainable construction, operatin…
Renovation and retrofitting in Portugal
The greenest house in Portugal is usually one that is already standing. The interior is full of stone and schist buildings that were left empty when the village emptied, and bringing one back costs a fraction of the carbon of a new build, though rarely a fraction of the patience.
Cerdeira brought a whole schist village in the Serra da Lousã back into use. Terrapalha renovates with natural materials out of Sintra, Aresta Engenharia works on bio-construction and urban rehabilitation from Chaves, and Amorim supplies the cork insulation that solves most of the thermal problem in these walls.
Expect damp, no insulation and a roof decision in year one. See also natural materials, eco-building techniques and energy efficiency. Dated activities from these projects are listed in our events calendar.