Mariana Carmo Costa

About

Hi! I’m Mariana Carmo Costa, an Interior Designer from Portugal with a passion for creating thoughtful, inspiring spaces that connect people and purpose.

My approach combines creativity with practicality — I enjoy the challenge of transforming ideas into spaces that not only look beautiful but also function with intention. I pay close attention to detail, believing it’s often the subtle elements that make a space feel just right.

Curious and solutions-driven, I enjoy exploring materials, stories, and context to inform my design decisions. I’m particularly drawn to projects that invite collaboration, experimentation, and a sense of narrative. Whether reimagining a temporary installation or shaping a permanent space, I strive to bring clarity, care, and meaning to every step of the process.

THE CONE LIBRARY 

This project bridges two contrasting neighbourhoods — one business-focused, the other creative and residential — by creating a shared space for learning, sharing, and expression. 

The design rethinks what a library can be: not just a place for books, but a flexible public space that supports different ways of working and interacting. 

Two main ideas shape the project: 

SOUND – creating zones for quiet, focus, collaboration, and social use 

OPENNESS – designing clear visual connections between spaces to make the building easy to understand and explore 

The challenge lies in balancing openness with acoustic control. The solution emerged through model exploration: the cone proved to be a simple yet powerful form that naturally frames views, guides sound, and defines different spatial qualities. By adapting the cone’s geometry, a family of spatial elements was developed to shape the library’s acoustic and visual experience.