BROOT: A Gentle Rawness Rooted in Portugal

A gentle rawness is the defining trait of BROOT, a collection of nature-inspired designs that channel the finesse of Portuguese natural stone to the International arena.

A shiny bench of schist stone seamlessly laying on dark acacia wood legs; a low table in golden limestone flirting with red clay elements; a lamp in white- and-black veined marble embracing a heart of burnt cork are few of the pieces featured in the BROOT collection. Conceived by different designers and makers from Portugal and abroad, these pieces exude a sense of mistery and archaism as well as genuine devotion for the local materiality and resources. 

BROOT, which launched in the US during the latest ICFF, is the brainchild of Assimagra, the national association for the country’s mineral resources. “The collection was conceived not only as a mere design initiative — explains Catarino Claro, geologist at Assimagra—but as a cultural movement that bridges centuries of tradition with a forward-looking global narrative. We wanted to not only promote stone as a raw material, but to reframe it within a broader ecosystem of regional resources such as burel wool, cork, wicker, and clay.”

To bring this vision to life, Assimagra turned to Olivah, a Lisbon-based creative studio founded by architect Gisella Tortoriello. With a refined sensitivity to material culture, Tortoriello in 2022, began a six-month research phase, traveling across Portugal to map not only materials but also the cultural and geographic contexts that define them. 

This groundwork laid the foundation for an experimental collection that debuted less than a year later and brought together the vision of five very different designers – Studio Anansi,Olivah, Vítor Reis Cerâmica, JMM Design Studio, and Estúdio Eneida Lombe Tavares – who were invited to interpret Portuguese natural materials in both functional and decorative objects. 

Each studio was chosen not just for its design credentials, but for its philosophical alignment with the project’s values: reverence for tradition, sensitivity to local materials, and a commitment to sustainability and contemporary interpretation. “Many worked with stone offcuts and surplus materials, items typically undervalued in the commercial market, giving them renewed purpose through design,” says Gabriella Tortoriello, founder of Olivah.

While the collection is deeply grounded in Portuguese materials and traditions, BROOT did not shy away from international perspectives. Some of the participating designers live or work outside of Portugal, such as Vítor Reis and JMM, and their inclusion is intentional. As Claro explains, this creative diversity allows for interpretations that are at once rooted and resonant – bridging regional authenticity with global relevance.” In many ways, BROOT reflects the experience of the Portuguese diaspora: a fusion of local identity and international outlook. The result is a collection that feels simultaneously grounded and expansive – a design language that speaks with a Portugues accent, but addresses a universal audience.” 

The future of BROOT is both promising and open-ended. The team plans to continue developing existing material pairings while also expanding to new territories and traditions within Portugal. Glass, brass, and lesser-known stones are already on the radar, as are artisanal techniques from underrepresented regions.

Sustainability will remain a central tenet, with the project committed to using undervalued or surplus materials, aligning with broader trends in conscious and ethical design. 

There is also the potential for BROOT to evolve into something larger: a platform for education, a network of makers, and a bridge between Portugal’s living heritage and the international design community. As the project grows, so too does its ability to showcase not just the richness of Portuguese resources but the creativity, collaboration, an cultural memory embedded within them. And in doing so, it also offers a compelling new model for how industries rooted in tradition can reinvent themselves through the lens of creativity.

Check out the Assimagra website here >>>
Check out Broot website here >>>
Check out Olivahs website here >>>
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