Our First Open House at MAD House Porto!

Last week, we finally opened the doors of MAD House!

It was the first time we really got to use the house the way I had imagined it when I started this project. We invited creatives from around Porto to come by, walk around the house, see the rooms, hang out in the garden, eat, drink, and meet each other.

And it was so much fun.

After spending years working on MAD House, it was pretty surreal to see people actually filling the space. People were wandering through the bedrooms, hanging in the dining room, exploring the garden, and asking questions about the creative residency. It was the first time the house felt less like a renovation project and more like the creative space I always wanted it to be.

We ended up having a garden party, which felt very fitting for the first event. There were lots of conversations happening at once, people meeting for the first time, old friends catching up, and plenty of ideas for future collaborations.

That is really what I want MAD House to be about!

It's not just a place to stay in Porto. I wanted to create a place where artists, designers, writers, makers, and other creatives can come together, have some space to work, and meet people who are doing interesting things.

The creative residency is a big part of that, but I'm also excited about everything else that can happen here. Workshops, dinners, collaborations, small events, creative projects, and whatever else comes out of having a house full of creative people.

Seeing everyone here for the first time made it all feel very real! A huge thank you to everyone who came to the open house and helped make it such a special night. Thank you for bringing your energy, your work, your ideas, and your curiosity into the space.

I'm so excited for what's next. This was just the beginning of MAD House!

Photos by Luis Ferreira and Liyana Balkanaska

Food by Joana Pinho

Flowers by Florida Studio