Materialized Ethnographic Research

Lugar de Estar is a setting inspired by the simple interiors of traditional homes in southern Portugal. It’s a search for that which is original to the relationships of people to places and their territories; local materials and crafts that bring together customs, traditional aesthetics, ways of making, and usage.

The collection is informed by archetypal artifacts that are enhanced by a contemporary approach to living. A shelf system recovers the “pangaio”, formerly used to hold oil lamps and religious figures. A day-bed reflects a laid back rhythm as it extends into a side table. Together with a palm carpet, both are adorned with the same coloured yarns and shapes found in old pieces. At the table, hand thrown red clay cups, dishes, and jars are illuminated by shades that reflect the pure white of southern quicklime. Another lamp joins together cork and metal while it hangs above a side table shaped after a “trempe” (a fire pit trivet) topped with a wood surface. Stackable storage boxes of different heights are constructed with the same simplicity as those fishermen used to make themselves for bringing fish to shore. A cork board finishes the top of the box.