Casa do Bispo

How would you describe the house in a nutshell?


It’s about finding harmony with the elements of nature — to enjoy them, but also to protect ourselves from them. It’s about the possibility of blooming under the sun, like all living beings.

It embodies the desire to bring this southern way of life into the spaces we inhabit — extending that sense of happiness and freedom we feel in southern territories beyond the threshold of our homes. The first house of our brand, which we’re very proud of, is Casa do Bispo, located in Vila do Bispo, at the westernmost edge of the Algarve in Portugal.

What is the story behind it? What inspired you to create it?


The story is deeply rooted in the many years we, Ana and Pedro, the founders, have spent in the South — especially here on the western edge of the Algarve, within the Vicentina Coast Natural Park between Vila do Bispo and Sagres.

Like everyone who visits this region, we fell in love with the unique way of relating to the territory — the daily ritual of discovering which beach or spot feels right for that particular day or natural condition. The idea was born from a desire to extend that sense of freedom and engagement with the landscape into the domestic environment.

We used to feel a kind of melancholy after a day of deep connection with the land and sea, only to return to a house that felt generic and predetermined — a place without the freedom to decide where it might be best to have lunch, relax, or enjoy a beer in the moment. That longing — to bring the same freedom and intimacy with nature into our living spaces — is the story and motivation behind it. Casa do Bispo is where we now live this idea fully.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interior design of Casa do Bispo?


The design and atmosphere of Casa do Bispo are grounded in local materials and traditions. Each project is an opportunity to explore regional ways of building and spatial culture.

The house is defined by appropriable spaces — spaces that invite reinterpretation and use. Within its modest 36 square metres, there are at least three places to have breakfast: on the bench by the façade, at the dining table, or at the inhabitable window. Over time, guests have continued to discover new possibilities that we hadn’t anticipated.

Another key element is the open relationship between interior and exterior — conceptually and physically. Conceptually, because we want the experience of exploring the Vicentina Coast to continue inside the house. Physically, because the architecture invites life onto the façade — whether through the bench, the window, or the bougainvillaea growing and blooming in the sun.

The house opens directly onto a small public space, and the complete absence of privacy concerns allows this continuity between inside and outside to unfold naturally.

To you personally, what makes the house special?


Casa do Bispo makes visible a way of relating to the territory — at the scale of the home. It’s about how, when we ask ourselves, “Where’s the best place to be right now?”, one possible answer can now be the house itself.

Because it is conceived as part of the continuous fabric of the landscape — the Natural Park, the beaches, and this unique southern light — it allows the home to become another expression of the South, built from its materials, forms, and rhythm.

What’s your policy regarding children?


Children are very welcome. They often help us discover new ways of using the spaces — sometimes in ways we hadn’t imagined, even though we already use our one-and-a-half-year-old daughter as a willing test subject.

Who designed Casa do Bispo?


The project was designed by Pedro Barata together with Ana. Pedro is the co-founder and managing partner of Anarchlab, an architecture laboratory, and the creator of As Vicentinas, a brand dedicated to architectural projects along the Vicentina Coast and western Algarve. The interior design is by Ana through her brand Dear Emilia. Many of the tableware pieces and other items throughout the house are handmade by her.