Rita Andringa graduated from IADE in Lisbon as an Interior Designer in 1999 and has since collaborated with several design and architecture studios in Lisbon. A very important part of her professional career was spent working with Vera Iachia, the Portuguese Interior Designer internationally recognised for her interiors in Comporta, one of Portugal’s best-kept ecosystems.
In 2015, she began signing her projects with her own name, founding what would become Andringa Studio, a multidisciplinary studio that promotes dialogue between interior design, architecture and landscaping. Her signature includes the heritage of Comporta Style but goes far beyond it, both in terms of approach and territory, with projects in Mexico, Spain and the United States of America. Rita is always moved by beautiful things and has always been passionate about art, history, gardens and gastronomy.
What led Atelier Andringa Studio to choose Horto do Campo Grande for this very special project?
Horto do Campo Grande gives us a quick response that combines a service with products and vegetation that meet most of our needs, especially in an urban environment. Of course, they are the top-of-mind reference that remains in the imagination of those who have always lived in Lisbon, but they are also a great solution for professionals.
How would you describe your relationship with the HCG team throughout the process? The team’s availability and professionalism, the variety of products on offer, the speed of execution…
The team was always efficient, from the first phone calls to the resolution of the usual setbacks. The process unfolded in line with the different phases of our project, and Horto do Campo Grande was able to provide us with appropriate solutions at each stage.
Do you agree that plants, and landscaping more broadly, are increasingly perceived as indispensable in the decoration of indoor and outdoor spaces, due to the benefits they bring in terms of well-being and enjoyment, but also in terms of enhancing projects? How is their introduction received in the projects you do?
The use of plants in built interiors and exteriors acts as a kind of imago mundi, bringing a symbolic and sensory reflection of nature into the inhabited space. Beyond aesthetics, they are a connection to nature. Outdoors, they structure and enhance spaces, promoting well-being and integration with the surroundings; indoors, they introduce freshness, texture and vitality, contributing to air quality and a more inspiring atmosphere.
The terrace of this flat has become an extension of the home. Horto do Campo Grande has developed the Horto Collection brand, which offers custom-made planters, with the possibility of choosing the colour desired by the customer. Do you consider products like these to be an asset to interior design studios? How have these solutions helped to transform the outdoor space?
Of course they are an asset, as we have an almost architectural response, in the extension of the space, which we can then complement with other pieces with more personality. These planters have proved to be very important in our urban outdoor projects.
The species chosen were selected to bring privacy and create comfort zones. Do you feel that this balance has been achieved?
Yes, in addition to seeking to ensure privacy and create comfort zones, there was also a concern to introduce diverse flora, capable of enriching the experience of the space. This diversity not only allows for greater aesthetic and sensory richness, but also reinforces the idea of a natural and welcoming environment, in harmony with the architectural and landscape context.
If you had to sum up the impact of HCG’s work on this project in one sentence, what would it be?
Horto do Campo Grande brought to this project the perfect combination of know-how, technical knowledge and sensitivity, transforming the spaces with vegetation that adds comfort, identity and harmony.
Find out more about this project here.
Photos © Rodrigo Cardoso
© Companhia das Cores to Horto do Campo Grande
