Our mission
With solid backgrounds in architecture and decades of combined experience across design, construction, and urban development, we bring together technical precision and a deep understanding of how people live, build, and belong in Portugal. FOUND is the meeting point of expertise and empathy a human-centered consultancy that bridges people and places with care, trust, and local knowledge. We simplify complex processes, eliminate distance, and ensure that every decision is made with clarity, confidence, and presence.
The Founders
Erika (37), fell in love with Portugal 10 years ago, when she came from Brazil for an artist residency in a social project in Lisbon and chose this country to be her home. She brings the sensitive perspective of someone who has explored the world with grounded feet and an open heart. As an architect and interior designer, she has spent the last few years travelling and living in different countries, driven by a deep curiosity about how people live, belong, and build homes and communities. A passion for meaningful projects and genuine human connection has shaped her path. FOUND is her way of helping others find their place in Portugal.
Erika Côrtes
Cássio de Lucena
Cássio (51), Italo-Luso-Brazilian, brings solid technical experience to FOUND. A father of two, he has been living in Lisbon with his family for the past 10 years. As an architect and urban planner with a PhD in Humanities and Arts, he has over three decades of experience, combining over 15 years of university teaching with extensive experience as an architect, property developer, and builder. He is currently engaged at FOUND, while also acting as a consultant to the Disciplinary Council of the Portuguese Architects Association (Ordem dos Arquitectos).
