Tiago
Pereira

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I live in Galamares, located in Sintra (inside the Lisbon district), between the mountains and the sea. I believe I am fortunate to live in a place known for its natural beauty and historical importance in the realm of arts and craftmanship. I work nearby my own woodworking workshop which is also located in Sintra.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

Marcenaria Artística Pereira is located in an industrial warehouse. At first glance, it may seem unassuming, but we have the privilege of enjoying a view of one of our most famous palaces, the Palace of Pena, located at the top of the Serra de Sintra. It is always the first thing I look at as soon as I leave the workshop, the forest around it grounds me and fills me with a sense of peace.

Although that would be reason enough to work here, we also have the advantage of being in an area that is near the highway, which makes it easier to reach clients and get the raw materials we use. I can proudly say that most of the work I carry out is delivered no more than 50 kilometres from the workshop. Although we deliver work to places from the north to the south of the country, this is usually not necessary as we live in such a central area.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

The projects I enjoy the most are the ones that push the boundaries of my knowledge, specifically if it entails doing woodworking in classical styles in which I can explore techniques of the past. We did some cabinets in oak with brass inlaid scutcheons which I loved doing. Other times when a project has solid drawers I like to try a mix of different joinery to add detail to the sides. When I am not working on traditional woodwork like this, I enjoy things that are out of the box, for example we are in the finishing phase of a treehouse! That is something that doesn’t appear everyday and it is fun to do. In short, anything that gives me the opportunity to improve my craft skills, whether it is something with fine detail or a crazy project where I can let off steam!

Do you have a favorite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

There are a few pubs and bars with certain themes that I enjoy (medieval pub, live music). What I appreciate the most is walking through nature in the beautiful Serra de Sintra, which is a big mountain with a palace in its peak. Both the nature and the surrounding aesthetics create an aura of mystery and fairy-tales that I enjoy particularly.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

The political problems that we have I believe are the same with the rest of Europe, the cost of living keeps rising, wages are stagnant, population is getting older and extreme politc views are arising, as people feel more and more uncertain about the future.

Social stress starts to appear with fringe populist groups gaining more power, claiming to have all the answers for the problems that we face and blaming ethnical groups or minorities. Such problems are, amongst others, uncontrolled immigration, the rising prices in the housing market, and the extortionate taxes that we pay. The fact in my opinion, is that no political group has “the“ answer for these matters, both in Portugal, and abroad.

Definetelly the housing cost is a big problem in Portugal and especially in Lisbon right now, as the regular classes are facing big pressure and difficulties in finding a decent place to live.

All of these topics are complicated and require meaningful though and political cohesion to address, but , unfortunately and despite living a democracy, cohesion in politics is something very difficult to achieve, especially in this era of extreme polarity.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?

The answer to both questions is tourism.

Portugal became a hotspot for tourists and rightfully so, we have many well kept monuments to visit, beautiful landscapes, a welcoming personality and a world class gastronomy, all easily accessible by a rental car or train (to the countryside), mainly to our size. Our history is also interesting since we are a melting pot of cultures and races, and despite a small population, we can be inventive, creative, and defiant in the face of overwhelming odds, that is, if we feel like it.

In regards to the other side of the question, despite tourism being a good thing in itself it has come with some downsides, we are now recieving too many people for the infrastruture we have, leaving the locals and tourists alike fighting to reach their destinations on time, since the roads and trains are full beyond capacity. This influx of tourism also brought an interest in acquiring homes, especially in the big cities, although this only accounts for part of the problem, it has taken its toll in the amount of homes available at affordable prices for the residents.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

Yes, Travesseiros da Piriquita in Vila de Sintra. It’s a traditional local pastry shop, founded in 1862. They have a cake called „travesseiro“ (which is like a small pillow), it is a special puff pastry with a filling of eggs and almonds. It has a lot of history and tradition. The pastry factory is in Sintra, close to their two cafes located in the historical village. It’s worth a visit—and a taste. Despite being an old business in the area, their recipe maintains secret, which is pretty cool.

In regards to handicrafts, a sculptor named Sandra Borges, she also has an atelier in Sintra. Her stoneware is fascinating as she favours local stones (the industry is also very developed in the region). She works with different techniques and inspirations to create unique works of art.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

Even if I don’t think this is particularly innovative compared to other cities, I am happy to see more and more initiatives that support entrepreneurship and collaboration between different companies and projects. But I am glad it already exists locally, because I believe in a collaborative approach to development, in general.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

I really like a restaurant called D. Pipas. It’s near the train station in Sintra and it’s not that well known. The food is very traditional, mainly comfort food, which feels very homely, as if it was cooked by my grandmother–she was a great cook, so that’s definitely good feedback!

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

There is a store called Coop Aldea Janas, which is the agricultural and trade co-operative’s shop where you can buy organic vegetables and fruit, but also local and unique products developed by them. They also offer activities and workshops and it’s interesting that you can buy directly from the producers and meet the person who makes the jam—chutney or pesto you buy, which in my opinion is priceless.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

   – Whatsapp.

   – Spotify.

   – Instagram.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

I don’t really have a favorite source. When I’m interested in a topic, I try to use as many sources as possible to gather as many points of view as possible—although I avoid tabloids.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

Impossible to answer, only if I were in that position could I see what I could tackle. The problems we know exist are complex and most of the time it’s easier said than done, because on paper everything works, but in practice things usually fall short of expectations.

The only thing I can say is that it would be useful to have more scientists or experts in positions of power or in advisory positions. I believe that these perspectives from different disciplines would allow a range of approaches to be developed and tested that could give clues as to how to solve some of these complex problems I mentioned earlier.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?

Both in Sintra (where I live) and in Japan. I am fascinated by Japanese culture and would love to live there one day. But I think I would always want to return to my hometown.