04.06.2025.
Designing the Future with Kengo Kuma
The Silveira Village Project: Restoring the Past, Shaping the Future
In May, we had the incredible honor of welcoming world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma to Silveira Tech Re_generation Village! Together, we are embarking on a visionary collaboration to revive three abandoned Schist Villages nestled in the heart of the Serra da Lousã mountains.
If you’ve been following our journey, you likely know Silveira Tech from our large-scale reforestation efforts — a long-term commitment to restoring over 230 hectares of mountain landscape, with a 50-year vision for ecological regeneration and biodiversity revival. But there’s another equally ambitious goal at the heart of our mission: reviving three long-abandoned Schist Villages.
What’s Coming to the Villages
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Silveira de Baixo will feature a rural hotel and 35 eco houses, designed with natural materials and rooted in traditional architecture.
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Silveira de Cima will become a center for ecological education, focusing on agroforestry, permaculture, and hands-on learning in environmental regeneration.
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Pé da Lomba is where a Personal Development Centre will emerge, offering a space for growth, wellness, and deep reconnection with oneself.
Kengo Kuma’s Architectural Vision
Kengo Kuma’s philosophy of “building in harmony with nature” is deeply aligned with our mission. His commitment to using local materials, respecting the natural landscape, and working closely with local artisans is exactly what’s needed to revive these villages without compromising their spirit.
“Our intervention is based on revitalizing the villages, using the same materials, the same scale, and not interfering with the harmony of the environment. The buildings will maintain their traditional spirit, but we intend to add new functions to them.”
– Kengo Kuma
Read the full interview with Kengo Kuma
Kuma envisions these villages as a new kind of workspace for young creatives and professionals who seek to live closer to nature — an increasingly relevant trend in the post-urban era of remote work and regenerative living.
This partnership is a powerful step forward in our mission to blend traditional architecture, regenerative design, and modern technology — creating a blueprint for sustainable rural living.
A Dream That Took Root
Back in 2022, when the project was still in its infancy, we dared to dream big. We prepared an 80-page proposal and sent it to Kengo Kuma & Associates, not expecting much. To our amazement, just one week later, we received a positive response.
And now, just a few years later, here we are — shaping the future of Silveira Villages with one of the world’s most visionary architects by our side. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Watch the Full Visit on YouTube
Want a behind-the-scenes look at Kengo Kuma’s visit to our land?
🎥 Check out the TVI Channel’s special report at our Basecamp in Silveira.
Follow Our Journey on YouTube!
Subscribe to our Silveira Tech YouTube channel to stay updated with the progress of our project. We’re documenting every step of our path towards ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, and the revitalization of 2 ancient abandoned villages on our land.
Support Us on Patreon! 💚
Join us in reforesting 230 hectares of the Serra da Lousã mountain!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kengo Kuma’s design philosophy?
Kengo Kuma is known for an approach that dissolves the boundary between architecture and its surrounding landscape, using local natural materials and traditional craft techniques. His work avoids imposing large-scale structures on environments, instead seeking what he calls “erasing” architecture, designs that feel as if they grew from the place rather than being placed on it. At Silveira, this translates to schist stone, traditional scale, and the integration of village structures with mountain terrain.
What will be built in the Silveira villages?
Silveira de Baixo will house a rural hotel and 35 eco homes designed with natural materials. Silveira de Cima will become a centre for ecological education focused on agroforestry and permaculture. Pé da Lomba will host a Personal Development Centre for wellness and reconnection. All three villages have been abandoned for more than six decades.
What are schist villages and why are they significant?
Schist villages are traditional communities in central Portugal built almost entirely from locally quarried schist stone, dark, layered rock that gives the buildings their distinctive grey-brown appearance. These villages represent centuries of vernacular architecture adapted to steep mountain terrain. Many were abandoned during the mid-20th century rural exodus. Reviving them while preserving their material character is both an architectural and cultural challenge.
How did Silveira Tech secure Kengo Kuma’s involvement?
In 2022, with the project still in its early stages, Silveira Tech prepared an 80-page proposal and submitted it directly to Kengo Kuma & Associates. One week later, they received a positive response. The collaboration has since developed into a formal architectural partnership for the revival of the three villages.
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Silveira Tech Re_generation Village
SilveiraTech leads a new model of life and work, uniting technology, regeneration, and community in restored mountain villages. A place where innovators and nature come together to co-create a thriving future.