Terrapalha

About us

Terrapalha is a Portuguese natural-architecture and bio-construction practice founded and led by architect Catarina Pinto. Since 2008, its stated mission has been 'BioArquitectura' — ecological, healthy natural architecture aimed at improving quality of life — and its specialist team develops both new-build and rehabilitation ('reabilitação') projects using natural resources including earth, straw, wood, stone, hemp, bamboo, and lime. The practice is based in Sintra and on Portugal's Alentejo coast, with completed projects across Portugal and elsewhere in Europe, and describes its natural-building work as pioneering in the Portuguese market.

Terrapalha's rehabilitation service specifically targets old buildings using an ecological approach: restoration, reinforced thermal insulation, traditional lime and clay renders ('rebocos'), and efficient window/door joinery, with projects designed to honour a building's pre-existing character while delivering contemporary comfort. The practice also offers ecological coatings and paints (clay and lime renders and paints, natural pigments, earthen and lime floors, and Moroccan tadelakt), specialist straw-bale construction, and installation of EcoCocoon prefabricated wall panels (a timber-framed, straw-insulated wall system that can achieve Passivhaus certification), for which Terrapalha is a Portuguese representative. Beyond direct construction work, Terrapalha provides architecture and engineering services for licensing and site management, as well as consultancy and training — running natural-building courses and talks for builders, architects, engineers, self-builders, students, and homeowners.

Terrapalha is based in Colares (Sintra) and São Luís (Odemira), Portugal, and can be reached at info@terrapalha.com or +351 933 291 112. The practice maintains Facebook and Instagram profiles and a long-running blog.