Always deeply drawn to the arts, Catarina trained in architecture and, already in her fifth year of studies, chose to work early on at the renowned atelier of Daciano da Costa. There, she learned to observe materials and details with a heightened sensitivity and a fresh perspective.

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Surrounded by architects both through her education and her professional experience, Catarina has developed a practice rooted in the experience and technique of architecture, with special attention to the materiality of spaces and the way people feel within them.

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Guided by the architect’s gaze, she strives to create spaces that are stripped of effects and focused on the essential, embracing the principle of “less is more” famously advocated by Mies van der Rohe. Her approach celebrates simplicity and imperfection, allowing spaces to feel real, natural, and lived-in.

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In the environments she creates, materials are chosen for their durability and the way they age gracefully, reflecting a beauty that lies in impermanence—a philosophy deeply inspired by wabi-sabi. Every project embodies authenticity, where the subtle interplay of texture, light, and form creates spaces that are timeless, comfortable, and inherently human.

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