Talks with Marta Brandão
Marta Brandão moves effortlessly between precision and intuition - between the rigor of construction and the poetry of form. A Portuguese architect, researcher and entrepreneur, she belongs to a generation that refuses to separate thinking from doing. As co-founder of MIMA Housing, she has helped redefine contemporary housing and hospitality through clarity, modular intelligence, and an almost radical commitment to simplification.
Her path traces a line between Portugal and Switzerland: from the Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto (FAUP) to the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). In Basel, she stepped into one of architecture’s most influential studios, collaborating between 2008 and 2012 with Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron - an experience that sharpened her understanding of scale, complexity, and cultural impact.
But Brandão’s work has always extended beyond practice. In 2017, she completed her PhD at EPFL with the thesis “The Big Building: Housing and Complex Design Strategies,” deepening her exploration of how architecture negotiates largeness, systems, and human experience. Recognition followed early on: in 2014, she received the Prémio Dona Antónia, honoring women whose work shapes Portugal’s economic, social, and cultural landscape.
Her creative universe does not end at the scale of buildings. As co-founder and creative director of Labase, she translates architectural thinking into wearable form - minimal, sculptural, deliberate. In 2023, she expanded her impact once more by co-founding Whole Women, a platform devoted to celebrating and empowering inspiring women.
Curiosity is her constant engine. It spills into her daily life and into the digital sphere, where, through Instagram (@visual_gluttony), she shares a stream of visual references - fragments of architecture, art, textures, and ideas - revealing the attentive gaze behind the structures she designs.
A quote from Marta triggered us:
1. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE, AND HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK IN THIS FIELD?
I’m an architect, researcher, and entrepreneur, and my work spans from designing buildings to creating wearable objects. I came to this field through a mix of curiosity and discipline - starting in architecture, studying in Portugal and Switzerland, and working with Herzog & de Meuron, I developed a deep interest in how design shapes human experience. Over time, I realized that the principles of architecture - clarity, modularity, and attention to form - could translate beyond buildings into everyday objects, which led me to explore multiple creative ventures.
2. IN WHAT WAYS HAS YOUR WORK SHAPED YOUR IDENTITY AND PERSONAL GROWTH?
Architecture has shaped how I see and navigate the world. It trained me to think across scales, to look for systems and connections, and to feel comfortable working within complexity. Over time, it has made me more resilient, more decisive, and more confident in ambiguity.
Research strengthened my critical thinking and discipline, while entrepreneurship pushed me beyond design into leadership and strategy. Together, these experiences have shaped me into someone who balances rigor with intuition - constantly evolving, questioning, and growing through the work I do.
3. HAS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS EVOLVED OVER TIME?
Yes, very much. Early on, success felt connected to recognition - working on ambitious projects, collaborating with influential figures, achieving academic milestones. Those things mattered, and they still do, but they no longer define success for me.
Over time, success has become more internal and more aligned with impact. It’s about building work that is meaningful, that improves the way people live, and that is intellectually honest. It’s also about creating structures - companies, collaborations, communities - that can sustain ideas beyond a single project.
Today, I see success as coherence: when my professional choices, personal values, and curiosity are aligned. And perhaps even more importantly, when I can grow while helping others grow alongside me.
4. WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING and also the energy or passion to diversifiying in other fields like the wholewomansclub or the jewelry brand La base, or the Phd in Lausanne?
Curiosity is my main driver. I’ve never experienced architecture as a closed discipline - for me, it’s a lens through which I understand the world. That naturally leads me to explore other territories. Design, research, community building - they all stem from the same desire to question, to translate ideas into form, and to create meaning.
The PhD came from a need to slow down and think deeply. It was a way of grounding practice in theory, of understanding complexity rather than just responding to it. Labase emerged from the urge to work at a different scale - more intimate, more immediate - yet still architectural in its rigor and materiality. Whole Women grew from a collective energy, from the belief that building supportive networks around women is not peripheral to professional life, but essential to it.
What keeps me motivated is this constant movement between scales and contexts. When I shift fields, I don’t feel like I’m fragmenting - I feel like I’m enriching the same core investigation. As long as I am learning, collaborating, and building something that feels coherent with my values, the energy naturally follows.
5. DO YOU HAVE A ROLE MODEL, FEMALE OR OTHERWISE? WHAT LESSONS FROM THEM HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR PATH?
I deeply admire the work of architects like Eileen Gray, Charlotte Perriand, and Lina Bo Bardi, among others. What inspires me most about them is how far ahead of their time they were - both in their ideas and in their approach to design - and how boldly they forged paths as women in fields dominated by men.
They didn’t just create remarkable buildings, furniture, and objects; they shaped new ways of living, thinking, and interacting with space. Their work carries a clarity, inventiveness, and human-centeredness that still feels incredibly contemporary today. Beyond their designs, their lives tell stories of courage, persistence, and integrity - lessons that resonate profoundly with my own journey.
From them, I’ve learned that meaningful architecture and design isn’t just about aesthetics or technical skill. It’s about curiosity, resilience, and leaving a legacy that inspires others to imagine, create, and challenge boundaries - values I strive to carry forward in both my professional and personal work.
6. HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES/RESISTANCE THAT PERTAINED TO YOU BEING A WOMAN IN THE WORKPLACE?
To be honest, I haven’t personally experienced major obstacles because of being a woman - in fact, quite the opposite at times. I’ve often felt that being a woman sparks curiosity, interest, and even admiration in professional settings.
That said, I cannot ignore the historical context. Women in architecture and many other fields have faced - and continue to face - significant challenges, from underrepresentation to biases that limit opportunities. Recognizing this reality motivates me to contribute to change, whether by mentoring, building networks like Whole Women, or simply being visible and vocal in my work. It’s important to celebrate progress while continuing to address the gaps that remain.
7. HOW HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOUR APPROACH TO WORK OR LEADERSHIP?
Even though I haven’t faced major obstacles personally because of being a woman, being aware of the challenges others have historically and still currently face has deeply shaped my approach to work and leadership. It has made me more attentive, inclusive, and intentional about creating spaces where everyone can contribute, be heard, and grow.
I try to lead by example - balancing curiosity, rigor, and empathy - and to foster collaboration rather than hierarchy. Initiatives like Whole Women reflect this mindset: I want to celebrate achievements, share knowledge, and build supportive networks. Ultimately, these experiences remind me that leadership is not just about guiding projects, but about shaping environments where people and ideas can thrive equally.
8. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE WORKPLACE AND HOW DO YOU OVERCOME IT? COMMUNICATION? MANAGEMENT? TIME MANAGEMENT? MOTIVATION? WORK/LIFE BALANCE?
For me, the biggest challenge is time management and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Architecture, research, entrepreneurship - all of it is deeply intertwined with who I am, so it’s easy for work to feel like it never stops. The temptation to be “always on” is real.
Over time, I’ve learned to navigate this by consciously prioritizing what truly matters, and by trusting others with responsibility - delegation isn’t just practical, it’s empowering for the team too. I also carve out moments to recharge, whether it’s a quiet coffee with myself, a walk through the city, or time with loved ones. These pauses aren’t breaks from productivity; they’re investments in presence, focus, and clarity.
Balancing work and life isn’t about strict separation - it’s about integrating them in a way that allows me to show up fully, creatively, and energetically both for my projects and for the people around me. It keeps me grounded, curious, and, ultimately, more alive in every part of my life.
9. WHAT UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES OR QUALITIES DO YOU THINK WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORKPLACE, AND HOW DO THESE INFLUENCE TEAM DYNAMICS?
I believe women bring a blend of empathy, intuition, and attentiveness that can profoundly shape team dynamics. These qualities help create spaces where people feel heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute their best ideas.
In practice, this doesn’t mean women approach work differently in a limiting way - it means they often notice connections, anticipate challenges, and foster collaboration in subtle but powerful ways. In teams, these perspectives encourage dialogue, reduce friction, and open the door for more holistic, inclusive solutions.
For me, cultivating these dynamics isn’t just about gender - it’s about creating environments where curiosity, rigor, and care coexist. When that happens, the team doesn’t just function efficiently; it thrives creatively and collectively.
10. WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WISH SOMEONE HAD SHARED WITH YOU WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT?
I wish someone had told me early on that it’s okay to embrace curiosity over certainty. When you’re starting out, there’s so much pressure to have all the answers, to define your path clearly, and to “do it right” from the beginning. But the truth is that growth comes from exploring, experimenting, and even making mistakes.
I would have loved to hear that learning is just as valuable as delivering, that asking questions is a strength, and that following what genuinely excites you - even if it seems unconventional - often leads to the most meaningful work. That mindset has shaped not only how I practice architecture, but how I approach research, entrepreneurship, and life itself.
11. WHAT’S ONE THING YOU HOPE YOUNGER WOMEN ENTERING YOUR FIELD FEEL EXCITED ABOUT?
I hope they feel excited about the incredible freedom and impact that architecture - and design more broadly - can offer. It’s a field where curiosity, creativity, and vision really matter, and where you can shape not just buildings, but how people live, interact, and experience the world.
I want them to be excited by the possibility of blending disciplines, taking risks, and creating their own paths - whether through research, practice, entrepreneurship, or unexpected collaborations. There’s space to be bold, to question the status quo, and to leave a mark that is uniquely theirs. For me, that sense of possibility is the most energizing part of entering this profession.
12. WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED PIECE OF CLOTHING?
It’s a Chloé coat I found in a second-hand store in Tokyo back in 2013. On the surface, it’s a classic long black wool coat, but the details - the slightly widening sleeves and the fabric belt - give it a subtle Japanese sensibility. It’s timeless, elegant, and effortless, yet full of character. Every time I wear it, it reminds me of that trip, of discovery, and of the beauty in combining different cultural influences in a single piece.
13. WHAT PURCHASE RULES DO YOU HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTHING?
I’m obsessed with finding the perfect basics - the perfect plain T-shirt, the perfect pair of jeans, the perfect blazer, the perfect leather bomber, the perfect black coat. If something feels too trendy or fleeting, I usually run in the opposite direction. I gravitate toward high-quality pieces that last, that feel timeless, and that can carry you effortlessly through seasons, both literally and stylistically. For me, it’s about building a wardrobe with intention, not chasing the next trend.
14. WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS MISSING IN YOUR CLOSET?
I’m still on the hunt for the perfect cashmere roll-neck sweater – like the Ace Pull by Liya Antwerp - something timeless, soft, and effortlessly elegant that feels like it could become a staple for years.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE JEWELERY FROM YOUR OWN COLLECTION AND ALSO OF THE LIYA ANTWERP COLLECTION AND WHY???
From my own La Base collection, my favorite piece is the D Ring - it’s so sleek and comfortable and I never take it off. I also adore the rings and earrings from the Liya Antwerp collection; they’re timeless and beautifully crafted.
