In Profile:
MAIDER NETO, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING

Name: Maider Neto Brito
Company Name: MAIDER NETO, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING
Position Within Company: CEO and Founder
Website: www.maiderneto.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:

Over many years, I have accumulated diverse professional experiences across different countries, cultures, and ways of understanding architecture, always shaped by the social, economic, cultural, political, and even religious contexts in which one works. I began my professional journey in Venezuela, a country rich in natural resources yet economically fragile due to long-standing political issues—circumstances that have historically limited the value placed on architecture. Latin American urbanism traces its roots back to the period of discovery; however, its architecture was originally born from a civilization deeply connected to and respectful of nature.

In contrast, my time in Barcelona, Spain—where I studied and worked for over five years—represented a turning point in my career. It was an experience that opened the door to new technologies, ideologies, and design methodologies, as well as to a culture of creative freedom without limits, where innovation and architectural expression are fully encouraged.
I opened my office in portugal 15 years ago in the Best Luxury place in Algarve : Quinta do Lago
Now a days I openned a second office in Portugal

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future.

1- Authenticity & Connection to Place
2- Human-Centered Experience
3- New materials
4- Flexibility & Adaptability
5-Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?:

Materials and Surfaces are essential. Natural stone, wood, and innovative sustainable finishes—such as those from Porcelanosa or Cosentino—allow us to express authenticity, durability, and a strong connection to nature.

Technology and Smart Systems have become indispensable in contemporary design. Integrated home automation, climate control, and lighting systems help create environments that are both intuitive and energy-efficient.

Finally, collaboration with skilled craftsmen and engineers is irreplaceable. Architecture reaches its highest level when design, technology, and craftsmanship work together seamlessly.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?:
Architecture should never be about imposing a form, but about understanding people, place, and time. When a design responds honestly to its context—social, cultural, environmental—it gains meaning, longevity, and emotional value. Trends fade, but thoughtful, human-centered design endures.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?:
Are a big step to connect with new people, services and consolidate our office for ainternational projects

What projects are you currently working on?:
Around 100 projects we produce in a year. We work in several residentials projects such as single houses, townhouses, big apartments develpments and create new urban areas.
We work also in commercial and industrial projects.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?:

When the client give us flexibility and freedom on our creation.
The Salgados House, in Albufeira, represented a significant design challenge due to the site’s constraints, particularly the presence of protected ecological land. The surrounding environment itself speaks volumes. The proximity to the sea and the preservation of nature were fundamental aspects in the development of this project, guiding every design decision in order to maintain a strong connection and deep respect for the natural landscape.

Waves, curves, and the perfect imperfection of nature became the inspiration behind the sculpting of a unique and futuristic residence. The client played a fundamental role in this process, as openness to innovation and bold ideas is essential when developing a project of this nature—where creativity has no limits.

With an open program that extends seamlessly toward the exterior, the house allows its residents to experience daily life in close contact with nature and fully embrace the surrounding environment. The project invites a way of living that is deeply connected to place, light, and landscape.

The living area not only opens onto the garden but also establishes a visual connection with the sky through a skylight integrated into the ceiling—an element that becomes part of the swimming pool located on the rooftop.

In this project, the pool is not merely an exterior feature; it becomes an integral part of the architecture itself. Flowing through the building’s curves and offering unique views over the sea, the water element transforms the experience of living, proposing a new way of inhabiting space—one that merges architecture, nature, and emotion into a singular experience.