Diogo Amaro
Cabinetmaker
Esmoriz, Portugal
The architect cabinetmaker
- Diogo’s curiosity for woodwork developed while working in architecture
- He designs and makes bespoke furniture pieces using mostly local woods
- His contemporary pieces showcase his talent for handmade joinery and inlay work
Diogo Amaro was set to pursue a career in architecture when a trip to Chicago radically changed his path. Curiously it was a city tour of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's key projects that drew Diogo to cabinetmaking. “I was confronted with his work and how he managed to get the best out of the master craftsmen of his time.” Once back in Lisbon, Diogo quit his job to study cabinetmaking at the renowned Fundação Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva (FRESS). Two years later, he set up his workshop using his architectural eye to make bespoke furniture with traditional joinery and inlay techniques. His first collection, the Chicago series, pays tribute to 20th-century Chicago architecture. Diogo's pieces reflect a continuous dialogue between traditional woodwork and contemporary design made to last.
INTERVIEW
When I returned from Chicago I initially opened my workshop in Lisbon in a small attic in the Alfama neighbourhood. Two years later, I moved back to Porto to set up my workshop in an old barrel maker's workshop. It is a great environment to develop my work.
For sure, it has an impact. For instance, finding myself in a traditional barrel maker area in Porto inspired me to create a new collection called Matéria where my pieces are made of three local materials – chestnut, oak and cork. I contribute to upholding woodwork heritage in this way.
At the Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva foundation, I was trained by incredible masters and learnt all the general cabinetmaking skills but I developed a special interest in handmade joinery and inlay work, which are both part of Portugal’s woodworking heritage.
The freedom to control and understand the whole process, from designing to making. I also invent my own finishing recipes. With know-how, you can experiment, and explore different paths. Cabinetmaking enables me to constantly question myself and improve.
