Achigã Pendant Light
We were invited by Projeto TASA to design a bespoke lighting piece for the lounge of a villa at Malhadinha Nova, a charming hotel in the Alentejo where nature, design, and hospitality come together in perfect balance.
The concept was suggested by the client and inspired by the surrounding landscape — particularly the nearby Ribeira de Terges and its most common fish, the Achigã. This connection to place shaped a linear, minimal design infused with delicate rhythms and textures, resulting in a sculptural and functional object.
Created through a deeply collaborative process, the final piece features hand-glazed ceramic shades whose surfaces echo the iridescent tones of fish scales. Each pendant is cradled in a gracefully curved wooden frame, designed to cast a soft, ambient glow. The lights are unified by a handwoven mesh made of Bunho, a native river plant, adding another layer of local materiality and meaning.
Bringing together natural materials, ancestral techniques, and contemporary design, this project is a quiet tribute to place, craft, and collective making.
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This project was a true collective effort made possible by the skilled hands of:
Vanessa Flórido – natural fibres
José Pedro Silva – woodworking
Francisco Eugénio – ceramics
Sullamp Lighting – electrical integrationCommissioned by Rita Soares, for Malhadinha Nova.
