yinjispace

INTERIOR
Studio Astolfi
ART DIRECTION
Felipa Almeida
PHOTOGRAPHY
BIJISPACE
WORDS
Fynn
EDITOR
Jinjie
Collection

In May, the land of Alentejo glows under a golden sun. Our design study journey led us to a hidden retreat by the lakeside hillside — Casa Nossa, meaning “our home” in Portuguese. It is the shared dream of Michelin-starred chef José Avillez and his wife, Sofia Ulrich: a place of rest for themselves and for friends, far from the noise of daily life. When designer Joana Astolfi welcomed us into this quiet world, we realized that this was more than a house — but a gentle reinvention of home — a restoration of closeness, and a poetic meditation on materials and memory.

Joana’s eyes still shine when she speaks of the old ruins that once stood here. The story began with a spark of love — when José, camping here with his family, stumbled upon the crumbling stone walls and endless lake view. In that instant, he knew: this was the place to gather, to savor life together. Design, then, became an act of tenderness. From that moment, design became an act of care. Starting from the ruins, Joana and her team at Studio Astolfi let the architecture unfold softly along the lakeside. Inside, ten guest rooms, a wine cellar, a bar, and a living & dining room open seamlessly into the garden — together composing a poem that drifts gently into the stillness of the water and light.

“This home doesn’t belong to anyone,” Joana says. “It belongs to the moment we share.” Public and private spaces open into one another, with sightlines that drift freely. Around the long dining table, slow meals turn into long conversations. On the terrace, overlooking the lake, decoration gives way to simplicity — letting nature take the lead. Every detail carries the warmth of Portuguese soul: effortless, grounded, quietly refined.

Here is no display of luxury here, only something far more precious: care. Joana gestures toward every lamp and chair. “Everything here was made for this place,” she says. “Many of the handmade ceramics and clay figures were collected from nearby.” Even the coffee table, once a stone used for pressing olives, was handpicked by Joana from the garden.

Every corner whispers a story. Soft earthy tones flow through the rooms; microcement bathrooms, plastered walls, and wooden panels echo one another’s textures. Woven lamps reveal layers of warmth. Each detail creates a calm rhythm — waiting for gathering, reading, cooking, or rest — until it all blends into what Joana calls “the true feeling of home.”

At times, Casa Nossa feels like a scene from a film — in the small private theater, terracotta walls and low loungers create a cozy cocoon for family movie nights. In the arched wine cellar, red velvet sofas shimmer under candlelight as wine swirls with quiet romance.

Step outside,the landscape unfolds like a declaration of life: tree shadows dance on the pool, a sunken fire pit awaits the stars, and the kitchen garden breathes the scent of soil. Beyond, a cricket field and a football pitch stretch under the sunlight, while small boats rock gently by the shore — all whispering the same thought: life here is meant to be savored, not rushed.

When Joana says, “This is a home built by one family, for other families,” it feels beautifully real. On the shelves, framed photos sent by past guests rest like offerings — small tokens of connection, passing the warmth of “home” between different names and stories.

Casa Nossa is no longer just a retreat — it is a living poem, a continuation of a chef José’s dream and a designer’s ode to light, water, and togetherness. Studio Astolfi achieves the most tender balance: the architecture steps back in humility, allowing life itself to take center stage.

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