Product Design as Cultural Narrative and Sustainable Craft
MACHEIA is a Lisbon-based design studio founded in 2020 by Italian-German designer Lucrezia Papillo and Mozambican-Portuguese architect Iany Gayo. Drawing on their diverse industrial design and architecture backgrounds, the duo created a studio focused on blending product design, traditional craft, and cultural storytelling.
A Studio Rooted in Tradition
The name MACHEIA comes from a term that refers to a handful—symbolizing the centrality of manual work and the tactile nature of the studio’s approach. Their work celebrates the continuity of ancestral knowledge through contemporary interpretations, producing handcrafted home objects that connect past and present.
Working with natural fibers and ancient weaving techniques, MACHEIA aims to preserve and renew Portugal’s craft heritage while building a future for sustainable design rooted in cultural identity.
The Bulrush Collection: Where Craft Meets Innovation
A key project that defines the studio’s philosophy is the Bulrush Collection, which revives the endangered Portuguese weaving technique known as Bunho. This complex method uses Schoenoplectus Palla—known as bulrush or giunco—to create intricate woven forms with cultural and aesthetic value. As a matter of fact, only two European artisans still practice this technique, including master weaver Manuel Ferreira, with whom MACHEIA collaborates closely. Combining the traditional Bunho spiral motif with custom metal structures, the collection reimagines craft as sculptural, tactile, and modern.
Assento: Between Form and Function
A standout piece in the Bulrush Collection is Assento, a hybrid between a stool and a side table. Its design is inspired by the Tanho, one of the most iconic patterns of the Bunho technique.
Assento features a spiral of bulrush rising from a minimalist steel arc. It cradles the woven form, creating a visual and material dialogue between metal and fiber. The organic shape evokes freedom from the spiral’s tight rhythm, offering comfort and sculptural beauty.
Local Production and Ecological Materials
Sustainability drives MACHEIA’s design process. Materials are local, primarily from Portugal’s wetlands, with bulrush harvested annually in Santarém. In summer, the bulrush sundries using traditional techniques.
This approach ensures low environmental impact, supports local communities, and extends the lifespan of techniques at risk of extinction.
MACHEIA at Lisbon Design Week 2025
In May 2025, MACHEIA will participate in the third edition of Lisbon Design Week, a five-day celebration of creativity, high craft, and design from May 28 to June 1 across various venues in Lisbon. The event brings together Portuguese and international designers, artists, and craftspeople. It offers exhibitions, talks, and product launches that highlight Portugal’s rich tapestry of contemporary design.
MACHEIA’s Vision for Contemporary Design
MACHEIA uses product design as a reflection, continuity, and transformation tool. Their work has been featured in international exhibitions and design fairs, drawing attention to the value of artisanal practices in modern design contexts.
Their collections are functional and poetic: each piece invite users to experience utility, meaning connection and cultural memory.
