ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
by Paloma Estrela Lopes
Paloma Estrela Lopes founded her eponymous PEL studio in 2022, driven by the belief that design can cultivate a profound sense of harmony. PEL’s work explores sculptural forms, balanced spatial compositions, and refined craftsmanship, creating spaces that beautifully integrate with their natural surroundings. By embracing traditional practices and locally sourced materials, PEL craft environments that evoke a deep sense of belonging and that ultimately feel like home.
ETHOS
Rooted in the ethos of sustainability, our designs prioritise longevity, natural materials, and a thoughtful connection to place. We create spaces that not only inspire but also support a more conscious way of living—where aesthetics and sustainability exist in seamless harmony, allowing you to build your life with intention and care for the world around you.
1
Casa Mami Água das Caldeiras
Located in Água das Caldeiras, near Cova, the project integrates a modest pre-existing house and rainwater cistern into a new architectural composition.
Set within a forested landscape of small-scale structures, the design adopts an L-shaped layout across two storeys, framing a rear courtyard and opening to views of São Vicente and the pine-covered mountains.
The programme includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, living and dining area, two bathrooms, a terrace, and a courtyard.
Local materials were prioritised: stone for retaining walls, pine trunks for the roof structure, straw for cladding, and pozzolana in the cement blocks. These choices enhance thermal comfort year-round, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 28°C.
2
Esplanada Rota Café
Santa Isabel
Santa Isabel is a small mountain settlement nestled between the Paul Valley and Pico da Cruz, accessible only by foot and lacking formal infrastructure. Building in this context has posed significant challenges, prompting a return to construction methods rooted in the region’s natural and economic realities.
The project sits on a hillside along the village path, marked by a mango and guava tree at its entrance. Inspiration was drawn from the vernacular shelters built by local residents—structures embedded into rock, crafted from sisal wood and thatched with straw.
In a similar spirit, the building is partially embedded in the slope, defined by a simple volume and a straw-covered roof. It comprises three compartments: a kitchen, a bathroom, and a dining area, which will house a permanent exhibition on the region’s coffee heritage.
The walls are exposed stone, laid with clay mortar; the floors and selected finishes use earth-cement; and the joinery features mahogany and woven cane. A shaded terrace in front of the building offers panoramic views from the Paul Valley to the sea.
3
Lilua
Chã de Feijoal
Chã de Feijoal is located in the arid highlands of the northern plateau, a region known for its goat cheese and stark, open landscapes. The surrounding terrain played a defining role in shaping the project’s concept. The forms and textures of nearby houses and the sculptural quality of the mountains guided the design throughout its evolution.
The project centres around a courtyard framed by two main volumes housing three bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. These structures face the access road, shielding the interior and creating a sense of discovery as the courtyard unfolds dramatically towards the mountains and the distant horizon.
At the heart of the courtyard sits a circular bar and kitchen, inspired by the region’s traditional cuznhola dwellings. This central pavilion offers a shaded terrace, inviting rest and social gathering.
Primary materials include local stone, woven cane, bamboo, and straw—each chosen for their simplicity, availability, and connection to place.
4
Pousada Dragoeiro
Monte Joana
Santa Isabel is a small mountain settlement nestled between the Paul Valley and Pico da Cruz, accessible only by foot and lacking formal infrastructure. Building in this context has posed significant challenges, prompting a return to construction methods rooted in the region’s natural and economic realities.
The project sits on a hillside along the village path, marked by a mango and guava tree at its entrance. Inspiration was drawn from the vernacular shelters built by local residents—structures embedded into rock, crafted from sisal wood and thatched with straw.
In a similar spirit, the building is partially embedded in the slope, defined by a simple volume and a straw-covered roof. It comprises three compartments: a kitchen, a bathroom, and a dining area, which will house a permanent exhibition on the region’s coffee heritage.
The walls are exposed stone, laid with clay mortar; the floors and selected finishes use earth-cement; and the joinery features mahogany and woven cane. A shaded terrace in front of the building offers panoramic views from the Paul Valley to the sea.
