Even his last name is related to their work.
Gonçalo Madeira Marrote was born in Cascais into a family of carpenters and masons, where he developed an early understanding of construction as both craft and culture.
He graduated in Architecture from FAUL in 2012, combining academic training with hands-on experience in carpentry and periods of travel, including Berlin.
In 2013, he travelled through India and Nepal, joining Studio Mumbai, where he worked with Bijoy Jain and was exposed to a deeply material and intuitive approach to architecture.
He later worked in small workshops in New York and Perth, further refining his relationship with making.
His ongoing interest in material expression led him to complete a postgraduate degree in Sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Lisbon in 2015.
Today, as a CEO of Madeiguincho, his work stands at the intersection of architecture and craftsmanship, creating a limited number of architect-designed wooden cabins each year, rooted in tradition and shaped by contemporary design.
Goals
At Madeiguincho, our goal is to design and build a limited number of architect-designed wooden cabins each year, where architecture and craftsmanship come together in a precise and thoughtful way.
We operate at a small scale, with a maximum of six cabins produced annually, allowing us to dedicate time and attention to each project, ensuring consistency, detail, and integrity in every build.
Our work is rooted in material, light, and landscape — creating spaces that offer a simple and meaningful way of living, closely connected to nature.
Alongside our cabins, we also develop a selection of exclusive carpentry pieces, sculptures, and tree houses, exploring a more experimental and artistic dimension of our practice.
We continue to work with an international clientele, bringing Portuguese craftsmanship into a broader architectural context.
Our long-term goal is to establish Madeiguincho as a reference in architect-designed cabins and crafted wooden structures, where each project reflects a balance between tradition, design, and contemporary living.
Commitment
Respect for the purity of the wood, ensuring quality, dedication, and durability.
Application of knowledge and techniques, both ancestral and contemporary.
Project and environmental sustainability.
