Our Story in Lisboa

Picchalham was founded in 2018 by landscape architect Sofia Mendes and interior designer Tiago Ribeiro, who met while restoring a 19th-century terrace in the Mouraria district. They shared a conviction that Lisbon's housing stock — much of it lacking generous outdoor space — deserved design thinking rooted in Mediterranean coastal tradition.

The studio name blends the Portuguese word for terrace (varanda/pátio culture) with a homage to the Atlantic hamlets of Cascais and Estoril. Today we employ six designers, two horticulturalists, and a procurement specialist who sources exclusively from Iberian and North African suppliers.

Our workshop on Rua das Flores serves as both design studio and material library, where clients can touch cork samples, compare azulejo glazes, and review full-scale mock-ups of terrace furniture before committing to a project.

Design Philosophy

We design for longevity, not trends. Mediterranean coastal living is defined by materials that age gracefully — weathered terracotta, silvered teak, sun-bleached linen — and layouts that adapt to how families actually use outdoor space across seasons.

Every project begins with a climate analysis: prevailing winds, sun angles, rainfall patterns, and neighbour sightlines. These data points inform everything from plant selection to the angle of a pergola's louvers.

We reject the notion that small terraces cannot feel generous. Through vertical planting, built-in seating, and optical tricks with mirrors and light colours, we routinely deliver 15 m² spaces that feel twice their size.

The Team

Sofia Mendes leads landscape and terrace architecture, with fifteen years of experience on Portuguese coastal properties from the Algarve to Porto. Tiago Ribeiro oversees interior coordination, ensuring seamless flow between indoor and outdoor rooms.

Horticulturalist Inês Costa selects drought-tolerant species suited to Lisbon's microclimate, while procurement lead Miguel Santos maintains relationships with ateliers in Sintra, Évora, and Marrakech for tiles and textiles.

Our junior designers rotate through site visits across the metropolitan area, building deep familiarity with building regulations, condominium rules, and the practical constraints of historic Lisbon structures.

Sustainability Commitment

We specify FSC-certified hardwoods, recycled-composite decking where appropriate, and native planting that supports local pollinators. Rainwater harvesting and greywater irrigation systems are standard recommendations for villa projects.

Our carbon footprint is minimised through regional sourcing: over 80% of materials on typical projects travel fewer than 300 kilometres. We publish an annual impact report and offset remaining emissions through Portuguese reforestation partners.

Clients receive a maintenance guide with every completed project, covering seasonal care for plants, finishes, and outdoor furniture so their investment endures for decades.

Awards & Recognition

Picchalham received the 2023 Lisbon Design Week award for Best Outdoor Living Space and was shortlisted for the European Terrace Design Prize in 2024. Our work has been featured in Casa Cláudia, Architectural Digest Portugal, and Monocle's design supplement.

We lecture annually at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Lisbon, on adaptive reuse of rooftop spaces in dense urban environments. Community workshops on container gardening and small-terrace design are offered quarterly in our studio.

These accolades reflect our team's dedication, but our greatest satisfaction comes from clients who describe their terrace as the room they use most — a testament to design that serves daily life.