Espaço D’ALTE Rian van Dijk
27 — 31 May
10:00 — 18:00
Saturday 10:00 - 21:00
LDW Highlights
Rian van Dijk presents "Wool, a Forgotten Material"
In a world where natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce and synthetic materials dominate our surroundings, one material lies literally at our feet: sheep’s wool. Once essential for warmth, comfort, and protection, wool has lost much of its value in contemporary production systems. In Portugal, as in the Netherlands, tons of wool are discarded or even burned every year, considered waste rather than a valuable resource.
"With Wool, a Forgotten Material, I aim to challenge this perception and explore new possibilities for wool within contemporary design and architecture."
The project consists of wall pieces made from local sheep’s wool. These tactile, sculptural works function both as artworks and as acoustic elements, contributing to a softer, calmer, and more harmonious indoor environment. Each piece balances visual presence with acoustic performance, positioning wool as both an expressive and functional material. The project began with a simple question: how can a material with such exceptional natural properties — insulating, breathable, fire-resistant, and sound-absorbing — be treated as waste? Sheep are shorn for their welfare, yet the wool often brings no economic return to farmers. "This paradox became the starting point of my research and practice."
"My background as an interior architect strongly shapes my approach. I think spatially — in texture, light, form, and sound. Rather than seeing wool as a textile fiber, I approach it as a building material that can make spaces warmer, softer, and more human. Locality is a key principle in my work. When working in Portugal, I use Portuguese wool; when working in the Netherlands, Dutch wool. Different sheep breeds, fiber structures, and natural tones give each piece a distinct character, rooted in the landscape and culture where it was made. "
Presented during Lisbon Design Week, Wool, a Forgotten Material becomes both an exhibition and a working studio. Throughout the week, she will develop new pieces on site, allowing visitors to experience the making process up close — from raw wool to finished work. By using the space simultaneously as an atelier and an exhibition space, the project offers insight into the material, the craft, and the slow, tactile processes behind the work. It invites visitors not only to observe the final pieces, but also to engage with the transformation of wool as it unfolds in real time.
She will also present, for the first time, a new collaboration developed with Burel Factory.
Street-level openings allow natural light to enter the space, creating a strong connection between inside and outside. This openness reflects the building’s historical function: ground floors in this part of the city often served as semi-public spaces, combining living, working and craft activities. Today, Espaço D’ALTE continues this tradition by hosting artistic and cultural projects that engage directly with material, process and place.
During Lisbon Design Week, the space functions both as an exhibition and as a working studio. Visitors are invited not only to view finished works, but also to experience the making process up close. The tactile qualities of the architecture — stone, proportion and light — form a natural dialogue with the slow, material-based practice presented in the space.
By combining its residential history with a contemporary use, Espaço D’ALTE offers an intimate and authentic setting in which past and present meet. It is a place where making, exhibiting and encountering material come together in a way that feels grounded, human and closely connected to the city itself.
