CAS Studio
We are CAS (Collective for Sustainable Architecture), funded by Alina Jerónimo and Paulo Carneiro.
Fascinated by the myriad ways in which buildings can relate to the world around them, we founded our multidisciplinary studio from our combined passion of sustainable and well crafted architecture.
Our belief is that by creating healthy, breathable structures from non-toxic materials, we can evoke happiness and understanding.
Ultimately, we use our architecture to create real, intuitive connections between people, communities, and the natural environment.
Our approach is refined and adapted from ancient design practices, with continuous glances towards the future. Each and every structural element is carefully considered, from the smallest screw to the largest cityscape.
We believe that art and architecture are interchangeable. This is why comfort, beauty, and creativity are at the forefront of our minds when we begin a new project, rather than conventional, ‘accepted’ style, or fleeting design trends.
Our work is always completely bespoke, crafted with exceptional care and attention to detail.
We put our whole passion into our work, so we most enjoy collaborating with clients who, like us, are lovers of art and the environment. They are both progressive and creatively curious, willing to defy convention and explore unique ideas with us.
Founders
Alina Jerónimo
I was born in Lisbon. As I grew up, I remember playing in streams and by the sea, which helped me to develop a very intimate connection with nature.
My maternal grandfather owned a traditional, hand-made brick factory, and my paternal grandfather was an entrepreneur. These two ingredients were to directly influence my future path.
I completed my studies at Lusíada University, and in spite of being an interesting learning process, I always felt that my proposals did not fit the academic norm.
Then one of my best personal and professional experiences were to begin in Barcelona, where I was inspired by art, design and vanguard architecture. In Barcelona, I worked in several architecture practices in different projects of different scales, such as Ramon Sanabria, Arturo Frediani, Josep Mias and AldayJover.
During this time, my interest in sustainable architecture became a life purpose. In 2010, I applied to CRAterre Institute to become a specialist in earth construction and sustainable development.
With CRAterre’s spirit of cooperation and ecology firmly embedded, I went to South Africa and Mozambique to bring my knowledge to bear. With Paulo and Architecture for Humanity, I proudly designed and built a community centre for 3,000 children in the town of Manica.
This place not only contributes towards building a dream for the community, it also learned how to live within the community, and to rediscover lost values in our modern society. We could say that it was the start of CAS.
Paulo Carneiro
I was born in Barcelos. I grew in this city with medieval buildings made of granite, a place with a rich culture in clay and crafts and well known for its alternative music.
I went to university in Porto Faculty, inspired by those architects who followed a connection with nature and with a humanistic design: Antonio Gaudí, Frank Lloyd Wright and Alvar Aalto. I wrote my final thesis about the “Organic Architecture”.
Following my interest in Gaudí’s work, one of my most exciting experiences was to live for several years in Barcelona, where I got in touch with a very creative and artistic culture that shaped my way of thinking and doing architecture. During this period I had the opportunity to work with the renowned architecture studios EMBT, Ramón Sanabria and Alfredo Arribas.
I began definitive experimental research on natural and bio-based materials, which led me to CRAterre Institute and after to live in Africa and develop the exciting project of designing and building a community centre in Mozambique with Alina and Architecture for Humanity.
During this period in Mozambique, we were close to the architect José Forjaz, which became an inpiration and a mentor to us.
Alina and I started CAS Studio project in Lisbon in 2016. We continue to travel and work all around the world, where we meet different cultures that contribute to opening our minds, and enrich our way of doing architecture, close to nature and to humans.
Collaborators
Marta Miranda
She completed her Master’s degree in Architecture in the Faculty of Architecture of Porto University in 2017. In 2015 she made an exchange program semester at Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad de Chile, with her master’s final dissertation subject focused on the recognition of the rural and coastal villages of Chiloé Island, Chile and their wood building culture.
She often collaborates with CAS in the projects development stage and she is passionate about independent music.
Joachim Firmin
He is a Master’s degree student from the ENSA – Malaquais / Paris, France, doing an academic internship with CAS.
He collaborates in the project’s development stage and he is passionate about tridimensional models and social impact architecture.
Ana Martins/Aheneah
She is a freelance artist and graphic designer who is constantly jumping between the digital and analog world. She has been mainly interested in exploring traditional textile techniques and materials, decontextualizing and transforming them into modern graphics.
In 2017 she has finished her degree in Graphic and Multimedia design at Escola Superior de Artes e Design in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal). She has already worked for the Theater Paralelo 20, ceramist Umbelina de Barros, Parish Council of Caldas da Rainha and also collaborated with Circus Network Gallery; Mistaker Maker; Generator. More recently she has developed an installation for the Estau, Street Art festival in Estarreja.
Among other collaborations with CAS Studio she is the responsible by the studio’s new graphic identity.
Beatriz Teixeira
She is graduated in Biblioeconomy by the University of São Paulo (USP) and has a post graduation in Tendencies and Communication by the University of Lisbon.
Her career developed around the research of the user and innovation. She worked in companies such as UOL, Box1824, Pearson, IBOPE, Itaú and Accenture.
During her post graduation in Lisbon she elaborated a project to identify the tendencies and creative signs of Marvilla district in Lisbon. This project included interviews to the residents and creatives of the neighbourhood and the creation of a workshop with stakeholders.
She is the responsible by the CAS Studio communication strategy and the studio’s DNA expression.
Pedro Ferreira
He has been an independent contractor on IT and Automation Solutions since 2012, in search for great challenges and new work experiences. He followed Systems and Computers Engineering programming option.
When he was 14 his hero was Thomas Edison and no electrical device around the house would remain unexplored for long. For him BASIC programming language manuals are read like novels.
He worked for 10 years as a project manager and team leader in an international company and now currently lives in Grenoble. His main interests are the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science.
He collaborates with CAS Studio in the development of devices and smart technologies that complement sustainable architecture.
Will Acker
He is an environmental engineer specialized in waste management, sanitation and agriculture and he is very passionate about soil.
At the present moment he works at the Haller Foundation (www.haller.org.uk) and he developed works for Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation, DfID, European Union, World Bank and United Nations.
Together with CAS Studio he developed the concept and construction of the bio-composter located in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.
He is the CAS consultant for water management and organic soil.
José F.Costa
He is an anthropologist of images. He uses photography as a tool to study people, architecture and landscape. Constantly seeking for meaning and knowledge, he studied photography at IADE University in Lisbon.
He believes in photography as an art form and he’s aware of its ruthless reality.
Especially interested in portraiture, landscape as a place, documentary photography and architecture, he wants to take it to a pure essence. His main inspirations are the Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painters.
He collaborates with CAS Studio catching their process of work and the details of the built space.
