Nini Andrade Silva – «My heart is Portuguese, but I am a citizen of the world.»
Nini Andrade Silva is a name that has become part of the landscape, a creative force in its own right. Born on the island of Madeira, shaped by volcanic landscapes and the rhythm of the Atlantic, her unique language tells visual stories around the world, transforming interior architecture into sensory and culturally immersive experiences. Villas&Golfe, where her voice has often been heard, celebrates her in this anniversary issue, challenging her to a conversation which highlights the luminous restlessness that guides her professional journey.
Nini, your personal history has been intertwined with that of Villas&Golfe throughout the years. When you look back over this journey, how do you feel that your vision of design and the way in which you express yourself through it has evolved?
My journey in design has always been deeply personal, anchored in my Madeiran heritage, but also cast out into the world. I grew up among the stones of Funchal, the calhaus (pebbles) that marked my childhood, and the intense light of the Atlantic; these very tangible elements shaped the way I see things, my relationship with materials and the way I perceive beauty. But as time has passed, the world has also become my home. Working and living in cities as distinctive as New York, London, Paris, Copenhagen and Johannesburg has broadened my vision and given me new languages. It was this international, diverse, multicultural and deeply challenging experience that made it possible for me to transform the emotion of Madeira into a universal aesthetic. Today, I feel that I have evolved towards a more sophisticated and strategic approach, in which design has always been a way of bringing together emotion and functionality, memory and innovation, poetry and precision. Each project is designed to be an experience, not just a space. For me, design has become an exercise in identity, my own and that of different places, but always with the aim of creating something that can be felt anywhere in the world.
«My journey in design has always been deeply personal [...]»
You are often quoted as saying that as long as you are healthy, you have no intention of stopping. Is this passion for what you do, in a way, your daily driving force – your dream in motion?
Yes. Design is more than just a profession for me, it is my way of being in the world. It is a dream in motion. I wake up every day with a desire to create, to experiment, to discover new ways of telling stories through architecture and interior design. This creative urge is what keeps me energised and committed to my projects and my team.
Madeira has always been a strong presence in your creative universe. What place does the island occupy today in what you conceive and feel?
Madeira is my point of departure and my place of refuge. It is where I was born, where I have lived a large part of my life, and where I still have my home and my loved ones. The island is more than a source of visual inspiration; it is an emotional foundation. Wood, stone, wind, and sea are always present in my work, like constant memories. Even in my most international projects, I always bring this sensory accent with me, because I believe that authenticity stems from these roots.
Your style is recognised both inside and outside Portugal. Do you still see yourself as an ambassador for Portuguese design and heritage around the world?
Yes, to a certain extent. I have never stopped being Portuguese in my work; sensitivity, poetry and authenticity are all part of my creative identity. It is an honour for me to represent this form of Portuguese design that celebrates materials, emotion and memory. When I work abroad, I take Portuguese culture with me, but I also learn from the environments in which I live. This exchange enriches me as a designer and as a person.
You have lived and worked in cities and countries as diverse as New York, London, South Africa and Denmark. Which of these places has had the greatest impact on you?
Each place has made a different impression on me. My heart is Portuguese, but I am a citizen of the world. I have always said that the planet has become a small village, and I feel this deeply. New York gave me ambition; London, discipline; Denmark taught me simplicity; South Africa, the power of nature. But at the same time, I belong to all of them and none of them, because each place has become part of my creative identity. And even though I have lived in so many cities, Madeira remains my emotional refuge. It is where I have my home, my childhood friends, my references. The world is my home.
In a career spanning more than 35 years, you have helped to shape hotels, residences, furniture, jewellery... Is there one project that stands out as the most daring or challenging in your career?
Throughout my career, I have come to realise that, due to the nature of my work and the identity I have built, any project that comes my way is already daring from the outset. Clients turn to me precisely because they want something that goes beyond the predictable; they want substance, they want identity, they want risk. And, as I am heavily involved in so many different areas, luxury hotels, residences, product design, curatorship, jewellery, international conferences, each project brings with it a different challenge. Some challenge me because of their narrative complexity, others because of unexpected materials, and yet others because of their cultural context or the symbolic responsibility they entail. For this reason, I would never be able to choose ‘the most challenging.’ Each project is a world unto itself, a dialogue and a complete undertaking. And, because they are all so unique, they each force me to reinvent myself. And that is precisely what fascinates me.
«Clients turn to me precisely because they want something that goes beyond the predictable; they want substance, they want identity, they want risk.»
You are involved in several international projects. Can you tell us about some of the most recent ones – or those that are currently sparking the most enthusiasm and curiosity in you?
2025 has been a truly fantastic year, a never-ending journey full of important events and thrilling challenges. I am very excited about several projects coming up in the next few months. I have been invited to be the Keynote Speaker at Maison&Objet 2026 in January in Paris, which is a very special international recognition.We are also working on some very demanding hotel projects, each with its own distinct character: Belmond, Autograph Collection (Marriott), Barceló, IHG Kimpton, among others. These projects are very different from each other, but they all involve a high degree of technical complexity and are of great cultural significance. I am also involved in international collaborations and new challenges that are currently in the pipeline, some of which I cannot reveal at this stage, but which promise to bring some very exciting developments in the coming year.
And which project or work has made the biggest impression on you to date?
There are so many, in fact all of them, and for very different reasons. Each project establishes a personal connection for me: to the places, to the teams, to the stories. So, choosing just one would be impossible. I can, however, single out a few that had a profound impact on different stages of my life and career. The projects I worked on in Colombia, for example, affected me on a human, emotional and cultural level, to the extent that they led me to become Honorary Consul of the Republic of Colombia. The W Hotel São Paulo, the first W in Brazil, was another milestone, not only because of its scale, but because it was the inspiration for the Coleção Amazónia, a range of 100% vegan leathers developed with Monteiro Fabrics, which shows how a project can generate new languages and even new industries. The Design Centre, which I created in Madeira, is practically an island within my island: a space in which my creative identity lives to the fullest. My first major hotel, the Aquapura Douro Valley, left a mark on me because it opened doors to the world. And the Savoy Palace, also in Madeira, is a colossus of emotional architecture, a life’s work, built with rigour and poetry. But these are just a few examples in a much broader universe. Each project has left a unique and inimitable mark, and they are all part of my history.
Professionally, everyone knows you as Nini. But your name is Isabel Andrade Silva. When you are called Isabel, how does it feel to reconnect with your original identity?
To be honest, I chose my name myself when I was a child. My mother said that the first word I ever said was ‘Nini’ and it stuck. She used to joke: “you even had to go and change your name...” So, when someone calls me ‘Isabel’, there’s always a slight disconnect, I almost don’t realise they’re talking to me. My identity is Nini. That’s how I live, how I create, how I exist in the world.
Apart from design, what gives you pleasure in your daily life? What are the little rituals or moments you consider to be essential?
I really enjoy being with my family, travelling without having anything planned, walking in nature, reading and painting. I also have simple rituals: keeping a notebook close by to jot down ideas that come to me at night, setting aside time to meditate on projects, listening to music. These moments sustain me and allow me to recharge.
Family has been an important cornerstone in your life. How have you managed to balance family life with the demanding pace of an international career?
It’s not always easy, but for me, family is a priority. I have a team, a studio that is like a family, and a balance that I have built over the years. I work long hours, yes, but I also value having time to be with the people I love. I believe that affection and discipline go hand in hand.
Luxury is part of your working life – but what about your personal life? Is there an object or habit that you regard as your favourite luxury?
My most precious luxury is time – time to create, to breathe, to just be. I also value small, very personal luxuries, such as a good book, a piece of art, a heartfelt conversation... things that cannot be bought, but rather experienced.
The concept of luxury has undergone a transformation. What does true luxury mean to you today?
For me, true luxury is authenticity. It is sophisticated simplicity, natural imperfection, the material that speaks to us. It is what is left when we remove everything that is superfluous. It is presence, memory, emotion.
If you had to choose one creative challenge that you haven’t yet accomplished, what would it be?
[…] We are steadily expanding globally, with the aim of consolidating the Nini Andrade Silva brand and, above all, leaving a lasting legacy in the world. This is something that deeply motivates me and gives me purpose. I would also like to establish an international design school, where professionals and students from around the world could do master’s degrees and advanced programmes, sharing knowledge and fostering global creativity. For me, this is the future of the brand, a future that contributes, teaches and inspires. I am also an ambassador for the Garouta do Calhau Association, a cause very close to my heart, to which I want to devote more and more energy and support. Everything that I do, all my projects and initiatives, have the goal of having a positive impact, creating experiences and contributing to something bigger than myself. That is how I see my legacy.
© Ricardo Lopes
And when you think about the younger generations, are there any designers or contemporary trends that inspire you or make you optimistic about the future of interior design?
Yes. I keep an eye on designers who value sustainability, craftsmanship, authenticity, and emotion. I like those who do not assert themselves through grandiosity, but through thought, sensitivity, and purpose. I believe that the future of design belongs to people who think ethically, creatively, and humanely.
«[…] design is not just about beautiful and functional spaces, but about how these spaces help us to live better, with more heart, more presence and more joy.»
What message would you share with Villas&Golfe readers as we celebrate 25 years of a publication that connects with the world and also highlights design?
It is an honour to be part of this celebration. My wish is for Villas&Golfe to continue promoting values of excellence, sensitivity and creativity. And let me leave you with this thought: design is not just about beautiful and functional spaces, but about how these spaces help us to live better, with more heart, more presence and more joy.
Text: Carla Martins
Photos: Mestre Homem Cardoso