A creative upcycling masterclass
The Beauty of Imperfection
Full masterclass: 1–7 May 2026 (Fri–Thu)
Weekend Masterclass: 1–3 May 2026 (Fri–Sun)
Step into a week where broken things become raw material for beauty. This intimate, hands-on masterclass at Terra Verde invites you to mend, reshape, and elevate the overlooked—turning stories into form through poetic repair and upcycling. Expect calm focus, slow meals, riverside pauses, and meaningful pieces you’ll be proud to keep—plus a gentler, more attentive way of seeing the world.
Main FAcilitaTor: João Bruno Videira
Highlights
Poetic repair & upcycling
Turn broken/forgotten objects into meaningful, beautiful pieces.
Functional design skills
Create elegant, practical items from repurposed materials.
Focus in Nature
Make in a serene manor setting with rivers, gardens and slow meals.
A Mindset shift
Leave with a gentler, sustainability-first way of seeing and making.
You’ll Be in Good Hands
Once you submit your interest, you’ll hear directly from Teresa, who lovingly organizes and hosts this Masterclass.
She’ll guide you through all the details — from travel tips to room preferences — ensuring your journey to Terra Verde is smooth, personal, and perfectly tailored to you.
What is The Beauty of Imperfection?
The Beauty of Imperfection is a hands-on masterclass at Terra Verde that teaches you to transform broken or overlooked objects into meaningful, beautiful pieces through upcycling and thoughtful repair. You’ll explore accessible techniques, design thinking and a sustainability-first mindset, working slowly and intentionally in nature with calm focus, shared meals and supportive community—leaving with finished creations and a new way of seeing value, story and form.
Prefer a shorter commitment? There’s also a condensed weekend edition that distils the core philosophy and techniques so you can complete a small, meaningful project and taste the full experience in brief.
To suit different schedules and budgets, The Beauty of Imperfection is available in four formats:
7-Day Masterclass — With Accommodation
A residential week at Terra Verde for full immersion, shared meals and community connection.
7-Day Masterclass — Programme Only (No Accommodation)
The full week of sessions and activities; you arrange your own nearby lodging.
Weekend Masterclass — With Accommodation
A focused Saturday–Sunday residential experience at Terra Verde, with João Bruno as the creative anchor.
Weekend Masterclass — Programme Only (No Accommodation)
The weekend curriculum without on-site lodging—ideal for locals or independent stays.
What’s included?
100% MAde for sleep
Beautiful rooms designed for friends, couples, or thoughtful sharing.
Nourishing Daily Meals
Fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner, made with local, seasonal ingredients.
Upcycling with João Bruno
Approximately 15 hours of guided making.
Kintsugi session
Three-hour golden repair workshop with Filipa Correia.
Everyday Artifacts
Six hours of functional, practical upcycling.
Coffee breaks
Tea, coffee and light snacks during sessions.
Nature access
River access, bicycles and village visits at leisure.
Exhibition
Install, present and celebrate your finished pieces
insurance
Basic personal insurance coverage for participants.
Meet Your Creative GuideS
João Bruno Videira
Textile artist & upcycling mentor
Self-taught since 2006, João reimagines Arraiolos wool through contemporary design, crafting sculptural furniture and objects that merge tradition, patience and playful geometry; his path bridges journalism and design, with exhibitions from London to Dubai.
Alexandra Arnóbio
Circular-economy designer & educator
Founder of Alexandra Arnóbio Upcycling Projects, she turns discards into functional, elegant household pieces while advocating circular economy principles through workshops and community initiatives.
Filipa Correia
Designer & conservator-restorer (Kintsugi)
Creator of Junta Cacos, Filipa specialises in Kintsugi and the creative reuse of ceramic waste, blending restoration skills with mindful repair; she teaches modern/traditional Kintsugi in Portugal and abroad.
Full WEEK MASTERCLASS
SHARED ROOM
€ 1650PRIVATE ROOM
€ 2150WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION
€1400WEEKEND MASTERCLASS
SHARED ROOM
€ 620PRIVATE ROOM
€ 780WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION
€550If A Friend or partner doesn’t want to participate in any of the sessions, but does want to participate in the meals: choose the private room option and add 75 € per night.
Day-by-Day Flow
MASTERCLASS Dates
Full masterclass: 1–7 May 2026 (Fri–Thu)
Weekend Masterclass: 1–3 May 2026 (Fri–Sun)
Group Size: max 16 participants
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 1 (Friday)
WEEKEND MASTERCLASS Day 1
Arrival & Orientation
14:00 — Arrivals, check-in
20:00 — Dinner
21:00 — Rest / quiet evening
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 2 (Saturday)
WEEKEND MASTERCLASS Day 2
Kintsugi & First Making
08:00 — Breakfast
09:00 — Session with João Bruno
13:30 — Lunch
16:00 — Kintsugi workshop — Filipa Correia (Junta Cacos)
18:00–20:00 — Free time
20:00 — Dinner
21:00–22:00 — Rest
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 3 (SUNDAY)
WEEKEND MASTERCLASS Day 3
Materials Lab & Second-hand Shop
08:00 — Breakfast
09:00–13:00 — Session with João Bruno
13:30 — Lunch
15:00–18:00 — Second-hand shop @ Terra Verde + What to do with the old and imperfect — Alexandra Arnóbio
18:00–20:00 — Free time
20:00 — Dinner
21:00–22:00 — Rest
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 4 (MONDAY)
Functional Upcycling
08:00 — Breakfast
09:00–13:00 — Session with João Bruno
13:30 — Lunch
16:00–18:00 — What to do with the old and imperfect (continuation) — Alexandra Arnóbio
18:00–20:00 — Free time
20:00 — Dinner
21:00–22:00 — Rest
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 5 (TUESDAY)
Refine the Details & Breathe
08:00 — Breakfast
09:00–13:00 — Session with João Bruno
13:30 — Lunch
16:00–18:00 — Free time (river, walks, rest)
18:00–20:00 — Free time
20:00 — Dinner
21:00–22:00 — Rest
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 6 (Wednesday)
Presenting the Work & Toast
08:00 — Breakfast
09:00–13:00 — Session with João Bruno
13:30 — Lunch
16:00–18:00 — Exhibition
18:00–20:00 — Free time
20:00 — Dinner
21:00–22:00 — Rest
FULL MASTERCLASS Day 7 (Thursday)
Slow Close & Departures
08:00 — Breakfast
10:00–12:00 — Hanging out / slow morning
13:30 — Lunch
Before 16:00 — Departures
Where You’ll Stay
Tucked between forested hills and river beaches in central Portugal, Terra Verde is more than a venue — it’s a living sanctuary where creativity, stillness and nature converge. This beautifully restored 19th-century manor in the historic village of Côja offers an intimate setting for reflection and making.
Elegant rooms, indoor/outdoor studios and gardens designed for pause and presence support the rhythm of a week devoted to upcycling, Kintsugi and thoughtful repair.
Mornings invite quiet focus among trees; days unfold in shaded corners or sunlit workspaces; evenings gather around firelight, conversation and simple rituals. You’ll find meditation nooks, shared meals in the communal dining room, and trails that lead straight into untouched landscapes. Bicycles are available for gentle rides through village paths or forest tracks.
Everything at Terra Verde is curated with care — from handcrafted details to fresh, seasonal meals. For The Beauty of Imperfection, the house becomes both canvas and workshop: a place where materials, memory and design meet — and where transformation feels like coming home.
How to get to Terra Verde?
Reaching Terra Verde is easier than you might think. While nestled in a peaceful, rural corner of central Portugal, the journey is straightforward — and we’re here to help.
Most guests fly into Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO), both of which are well connected to Coimbra, the nearest major city by train or bus. From Coimbra, we offer a free group transfer to Terra Verde, timed to match common arrival times.
You’ll receive detailed travel suggestions and timing guidance upon registration. For now, we’ve prepared a simple guide to help you plan your route:
What People Say
João Bruno Videira
“João changed how I see materials—slow, patient, profoundly creative.”— Workshop participant
“From scraps to sculpture. I left with skills and a story.” — Designer attendee
“Calm teaching, precise guidance, inspiring results.” — Architect, masterclass cohort
Alexandra Arnóbio
“Practical, elegant upcycling I can repeat at home.” — Weekend participant
“She makes circular design feel accessible—and fun.” — Community organiser
“I now look at everyday waste with new eyes.” — Participant feedback
Filipa Correia (Junta Cacos / Kintsugi)
“Kintsugi became a meditation on care and value.” — Ceramics lover
“Beautiful technique, beautifully taught—golden lines, gentle philosophy.” — Participant
“Fixing became creating. My broken bowl is now my favourite.” — Attendee
You’ll Be in Good Hands
Once you submit your interest, you’ll hear directly from Teresa, who lovingly organizes and hosts this Masterclass.
She’ll guide you through all the details — from travel tips to room preferences — ensuring your journey to Terra Verde is smooth, personal, and perfectly tailored to you.
