About · Lola Cwikowski Studio · Interior Architecture & Design

Interior architecture & design practice specializing in residential renovation and furnishing projects in Portugal.

Lola Cwikowski Studio is an interior architecture and design practice specializing in residential renovation and furnishing projects in Portugal. Our Lisbon-based studio elevates homes into spaces that are both beautiful and highly functional, fostering delightful interactions between people and their environs. We create welcoming interiors grounded in minimalism, leveraging our dual expertise in renovation and furnishing.

Our experience in project management, spatial organization, and honest materials is complemented by an eye for unique, locally-produced, and secondhand furniture and decor. We are equally at ease designing for new construction or thoughtful renovation, and relish finding the subtle equilibrium between traditional features and modern comforts.

Respect for people and the planet, and proximity to craft and materials, drive us. We prioritize sustainable furniture, solutions, and materials and work with talented and trusted builders. We also produce custom furniture pieces with local craftspeople and materials, imparting Portuguese soul into each project. Our office is located in a traditional Portuguese vila in Graça, enlivened by carpenters, creatives, residents, and summer lunches under the grapevine.

Lola Cwikowski is a Belgian interior architect, with a master’s degree in interior architecture from Saint-Luc Liège and exchange at Deià Barcelona. After her studies, she worked with architecture firms in Belgium, Shanghai, and San Francisco, honing her experience in designing upscale residential, office, and retail spaces. Falling in love with Portugal’s artisanal tradition, she established Lola Cwikowski Studio in her adopted home of Lisbon, finding a more human approach to her practice. She builds on her foundation in minimalist aesthetics with a deep understanding of people’s needs and an appreciation for local craftsmanship.

2017 – present · Lola Cwikowski Studio · Lisbon, Portugal
2014 – 2016 · Garcia Tamjidi Architecture Design · San Francisco, USA
2014 – 2014 · AUD Architecture & Urban Design · Shanghai, China
2011 – 2013 · Luc Spits Architecture · Liège, Belgium

Ian Leighton is a designer and engineer from California with a degree in mechanical engineering focused in human-centered design from UC Berkeley. Beginning his career as a co-founder of a mobility startup (Embark), and later as a product designer at Apple, he moved to Lisbon and expanded his expertise. He creates ergonomic and technical solutions with a human-centered approach, as well as focusing on content and processes.

Matilde Esteves Calado is a licensed Portuguese architect with an integrated master’s from the Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade de Lisboa. She has experience in new construction and renovation projects around Portugal, and excels in Building Information Modeling, with a meticulous attention to construction details. Since joining the studio in 2021, she has developed a passion for custom cabinetry and furniture design.

Alina Pułka is a Polish architect with a master’s degree from Politechnika Wrocławska and exchanges at CEU San Pablo Madrid and Universitat Politècnica de València. She specializes in designing functional hospitality and retail interiors, drawing inspiration from her love of food, travel, and art to blend traditional and contemporary elements.

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