Architecture & Interior design studio

Íris Cantante is an architecture and interiors studio based in Almancil, in southern Portugal. We work on private residential, hospitality, and commercial commissions in Portugal and abroad.

We design and deliver projects as a single continuous practice — architecture, construction, and interiors — under one studio. Each project is led personally by Íris, from first sketch to final detail.

My approach

In an era of mass production, it is essential to rediscover the path to personalization, authenticity, and individuality. True luxury lies in time – the time dedicated to listening, understanding, and transforming spaces into true extensions of those who inhabit them. More than delivering a final project, I strive to make this journey special for each client – an engaging and enjoyable process where, together, we transform ideas, emotions, and desires into tangible forms.

Architecture goes beyond aesthetics – it is about people. I believe each project should reflect the personality and way of life of those who inhabit it. For this reason, our approach is based on proximity, listening, and understanding needs, adapting every detail to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also truly lived in.

Each space is designed with rigor and intuition, with a deep respect for materiality and light. Every detail is carefully considered so that the harmony between form, function, and emotion occurs naturally.

Exclusivity is not only found in materials or shapes but in the experience of a space that resonates deeply with those who inhabit it.

About

Íris Cantante (b. 1981, Lisbon) graduated in Architecture and Urbanism from ISCTE — Instituto Universitário de Lisboa in 2005. She trained at Josep Lluís Mateo’s practice in Barcelona and at Clorindo Testa’s studio in Buenos Aires. Established her independent practice in 2008.

Her work has been published internationally — in Dezeen, AD, Elle Decoration, Design Milk and ArchDaily, among others — and was twice nominated for ArchDaily’s Construction of the Year in 2016.

Earlier work spans Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Manila. She returned to Portugal in 2017, and the studio is now based in Almancil, with projects throughout the Algarve and select commissions abroad.