HIGHLIGHTS: LISBON DESIGN WEEK 2024
Photo credit: Simon Kämpfer
De La Espada is proud to have been the main sponsor of Lisbon Design Week 2024.
This annual showcase of Portuguese creativity and craft offers a curated programme of product launches, open studios, exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses, presentations, talks, and more across the city. The 2024 edition included over 80 participants. It was a joy to explore, not only for the superb design and craft, but the jacaranda trees in full bloom as we traversed the streets.
De La Espada co-founder Luis De Oliveira shares some of his highlights of the city-wide event, with a few personalised words.
Find a full schedule of events here
Photo credit: Studio Gameiro
Multi-disciplinary architecture firm Studio Gameiro works at the intesection of contemporary design, traditional artisanship, and local context. At Lisbon Design Week, they presented furniture from the Salt Collection, including the new Layered Side Table, as well as pieces from the Alumina, Slab, and Clam Collections.
“João and his team have pushed boundaries exploring an unexpected material like rock salt. A studio to watch.”
Photo credit: Filipa Pinto da Silva
FELIPA ALMEIDA - OPEN STUDIO
Felipa Almeida welcomed visitors to her Lisbon studio to view her private collection of ceramic pieces from various regions of Portugal. This collection, encompassing different historical periods, knowledge and living traditions of the country, is part of Almeida’s ongoing research that informs her curation of art and craft objects made in Portugal.
“Felipa is a collector and curator with impeccable taste and rigour when it comes to her selection, so her studio embodies this to perfection.”
Photo courtesy of UTIL
UTIL is a Lisbon-based design brand with a philosophy of simple, functional design with an architectural sensibility. At Lisbon Design Week, they presented the new Palco shelving by German design studio Geckeler Michels.
“Manuel and Tomás and their colleagues have worked with great focus to create a distinctive brand; a pioneer of the Lisbon design community.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
Made using the Arraiolos embroidery technique, deFio rugs combine artful design with the richness, tactility and texture of various types of stitches. During Lisbon Design Week, they exhibited new tapestries and welcomed visitors for presentations of the Arraiolos process.
“Felipa had the courage to abandon a conventional career and throw herself at a craft that involves the most laborious of processes, and her enthusiasm shines through.”
Photo credit: Emily Jean Vanweydeveld
A special installation at the Flores Textile Studio showroom in Praça das Flores featured an exhibition of photography by Shahid Datawala, capturing both an Indian cinema from the 1930s and a Portuguese cinema. The photography was presented in dialogue with several new additions to the Flores “essentials” furniture collection, exploring a variety of Portuguese materials and crafts; and a sculptural lamp, created in collaboration with Marion Flament, inspired by the Art Deco cinema.
“Valentina and Emma are such an asset to the Lisbon scene, bringing their diverse interests, such as dance, film and photography, into their creative practice and inviting friends like Shahid to contribute to the city's cultural life.”
Photo credit: Rodrigo Cardoso
Multidisciplinary art and design studio Oficina Marques presented the Bucólica collection of tabletop ceramics. The concept, based on bucolic beauty and the realm of nature, originated from a joint dialogue between Oficina Marques and Andringa Studio, led by interior designer Rita Andringa, who also collaborated on the immersive installation.
“Three good friends came together to create a vignette that reflects upon the time spent together in rural settings, as a tool to highlight the wonderful creative world of Oficina Marques and their exploration of ceramic as a material.”
Photo credit: Mariana Moto
The Made in Situ Lisbon gallery founded by designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance is a platform that fosters a series of cross-disciplinary exchanges instigated by the designs and their process. For Lisbon Design Week, they presented the Caretos exhibition, merging film, installation, live performance, and product, reflecting on the Caretos festivities ingrained in the cultural tapestry of northern Portugal.
“Noé is so welcome in the Lisbon design scene, casting a fresh and aesthetically sensitive eye over many of the traditions and crafts of rural Portugal. His latest exhibition is a masterpiece of storytelling.”
Photo courtesy of Passa Ao Futuro
At Ando Living Clubhouse, Passa Ao Futuro presented Campo, the first collection of products from their Plant Based Design Residency. The products were designed by Sam Baron and handmade by Toino Abel in the context of the Made in Platform for Contemporary Crafts & Design project, a research, design and heritage initiative encouraging exchange between traditional craftspeople and contemporary designers. The exhibition combined raw materials, finished products, photography, and film to transport visitors through the creation process.
“Astrid, the craftspeople she collaborates with, and people like designer Sam Baron, form a project that De La Espada is proud to support. If there is an intersection between design and the world of craft, then this is the place.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
NOSSA TERRA
The Nossa Terra exhibition, curated by Sam Baron, brought together a selection of artefacts produced in terracotta in Portugal. The focus on terracotta intentionally drew attention to the local land from which it comes, the associated skills and techniques, the ancestral history, and the culture in which terracotta objects live. The items were presented at Arquivo Aires Mateus.
“I am so grateful to Lisbon Design Week and Sam Baron for commissioning this exhibition, a real gift to the wider city, and my only regret is that we were not able to run the exhibition for a longer period.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
At an ancient historical factory, filled with patina and traces of time, Eva Velazquez and Jimmy Beyens presented historical clothing, objects, and furniture from their collections, showcasing Portugal's heritage and cultural richness. Jimmy Beyens is an ensemble maker: he collects furniture and art objects, then stages them using natural lighting. Fashion designer Eva Velazquez identifies and restores historical clothing from the peasant and working class, which she reinterprets for contemporary use.
“One of the best surprises of the design week, with Eva contributing the excitement that surrounds fashion to Jimmy’s moody and romantic interiors.”
Photo credit: Irina Boersma
LUSO Collective, founded and curated by Natasza Grzeskiewicz and Tomás Fernandes of Studio THER, alongside Zuzanna Gasior of Thisispaper Studio and Magazine, seeks to bring together some of the best Portuguese-based talents. This first edition, presented at Lisbon Design Week, included participants Studio Gameiro, MACHEIA, Garce & Dimofski, and Studio THER - each bringing their unique perspectives to this vibrant assembly.
“Natasza, Zuzanna and Tomás have found a fabulous space and have the right spirit and energy to turn LUSO Collective into one of the leading group shows of the design week. Watch this space.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
Depozito, a recent project by A Vida Portuguesa in collaboration with Portugal Manual, offers artisanal craft objects for sale, and also hosts classes, conversations and workshops. For Lisbon Design Week, Depozito hosted the exhibition “De Loulé: Diálogos entre Artesãos e Designers” to highlight the work of Loulé Criativo, a project by Loulé City Council which has created conditions for the growth, rejuvenation and development of local creation and production. As part of the exhibition, they also hosted a talk, about which Luis said, “fabulous talk — one of the best talks I can recall.”
“Henrique and his colleagues, alongside the town hall of Loulé, are pioneers in terms of applying design thinking to reviving historical crafts at a local level, and their thoughtful project deserves far greater exposure than it receives today.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
ATELIER DACIANO DA COSTA - OPEN STUDIO
Daciano da Costa was one of the pioneers of industrial design in Portugal, and designed for many sectors of the national industry. He founded his studio, Atelier Daciano da Costa, in 1959 and over the decades worked in interior design, industrial design, furniture design and urban design. At Lisbon Design Week, visitors were welcomed into the atelier for a vibrant slice of Portuguese design heritage.
“Inês is such a force of nature, almost single-handedly reviving the memory of her father and his studio, who tower over the Portuguese industrial design scene of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.”
Photo credit: Simon Kämpfer
Victoire de Lencquesaing of Main Edition and Marta Cypel share a studio in Lisbon, where each creates ceramics in their own unique visual language. During Lisbon Design Week, they opened the doors to their studio, revealing their creative processes through research, samples, and finished pieces.
“Victoire and Marta embody the enthusiasm of so many ceramicists both from Portugal and abroad, who have made Lisbon so vibrant in this creative endeavour.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
For Lisbon Design Week, Banema Studio became an ‘open workshop’ for Lisbon-based Brazilian designer and woodworker Miguel Saboya. Visitors were invited to observe the process of transforming wood from raw material to finished piece.
“Miguel proves how the general public and even professionals are fascinated by the sight of contemporary craftspeople doing their thing. This reflects how the current generation has limited notions of how things are made, so this event pushes firmly back at this mindset.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
Violaine d'Harcourt is a Lisbon-based French lighting designer working with blown glass, turned wood, ceramic, marble and limestone. For Lisbon Design Week, she welcomed visitors to her open studio for a lighting exhibition plus pieces from guest artists.
“Violaine is one of Lisbon’s most talented lighting designers. Her show at the Lisbon by Design group exhibition last year really struck us and this year she continues to power onwards.”
Photo credit: Sirence Studios
Atelier Rita Valadão creates interiors with the meticulous interaction between distinct volumes, lighting, and authentic materials, with rich colour and texture. For Lisbon Design Week, they exhibited ceramic pieces by Anna Westerlund and objects by Mamoa Design designed for the studio.
“Not only is Rita, ably assisted by her studio, a talented and experienced interior designer, but she clearly is a master at experience design, too. Her tropical-themed reception during the design week wins our award for best party.”
Photo credit: Yuki Sugiura
De La Espada presented the new Arts & Crafts cabinet system by De La Espada Atelier at OJO Gallery, a Lisbon art gallery with a focus on contemporary art made using ancient techniques.
The new cabinet system, which fuses the skills of artists and craftsmen from various disciplines, was exhibited in dialogue with a selection of artworks specially created for the exhibition by Porto-based French artist Victor Marqué, under the curation of Marie de Carvalho, owner of OJO gallery.
“How can we express properly our gratitude to Marie, who allowed us to use her space and use Victor’s artworks to create one of our smallest but most charming exhibitions ever.”
LISBON BY DESIGN AT PALACETE GOMES FREIRE
In the 19th century mansion Palacete Gomes Freire, a curated selection of design and craft was presented over 10 exhibition rooms for Lisbon by Design during Lisbon Design Week.
Below are a few of Luis' highlights from this group exhibition.
Photo credit: Claudia Rocha
Greeting visitors as they entered Palacete Gomes Freire was the Farinha | Rosa exhibition.
Studio Farinha | Rosa is a creative studio led by Pedro Farinha and Ana Rosa, who work together and collaborate as two authors. Graduates in architecture and interior design, they bring their vision and expertise to the visual arts, focusing on the exploration of space at both macro and micro levels. They specialize in abstract painting on various mediums such as paper, linen, cotton, and cardboard, employing collages and a range of techniques to weave narratives that delve into their own memories and those of others.
Photo courtesy of Amande Haeghen
Adorning the walls of the staircase of Palacete Gomes Freire were sculptural wall lights by Amande Haeghen, showcasing the experimental side of her work, in sandstone, ceramic and glass. Each unique shape revealed complex colour combinations and worlds within.
Photo credit: Claudia Rocha
175-year-old ceramics producer Viúva Lamego presented pieces created in collaboration with Bela Silva, including intricate ceramic vessels; and, by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, an “azulejos landscape” capturing the Portuguese coast through hand-glazed tiles.
Photo credit: João Guimarães
Hum Gallery celebrates imperfection, storytelling, and the human touch, showcasing the work of carefully selected artists and designers. At Lisbon by Design, they presented a special installation that included hand blown glass by Martinho Pita Studio and wood furniture by Vasco Fragoso Mendes.
Photo credit: Claudia Rocha
Established by Cherie Er and Gabriel Tan, Porto-based Origin Made creates furniture, objects, and lighting through partnerships between designers and skilled artisans, operating with the mission to elevate and preserve craft cultures through contemporary design. At Lisbon by Design, they presented four new designs, united by the theme “Materials Intention”, underscoring the thoughtful pairings of natural materials with minimal forms.
