Mayra Deberg is a Brazilian architect and urban planner whose work explores alternative responses to the environmental challenges of the construction industry, particularly the depletion of natural resources and the generation of waste. She holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Product Design from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, where she developed the thesis “A Design Contribution to the Issue of Construction Waste: Reinterpreting the Traditional Terrazzo Technique in Decorative Objects.” The project received recognition in international competitions such as the Green Concept Award, iF Design Student Award, and Distributed Design, and was exhibited at Vienna Design Week, the Art and Design Biennale in Funchal, MaterialDistrict, MUDE – Design Museum, and other design and cultural platforms.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Design at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Her research continues this investigation through a reflection on the materiality and memory embedded in construction and demolition waste, exploring how residual matter can be reintegrated into architectural components through circular design strategies. Alongside her academic work, she has developed projects, exhibitions, workshops, and publications that connect material experimentation, craftsmanship, digital manufacturing, and sustainable approaches to design. She is also a member of Portugal Manual, a platform that promotes brands and products created by artisans, artists, and designers based in Portugal.
Institution // The Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto is a higher education institution dedicated to teaching and research in art, design, and visual culture. It combines studio-based practice with theoretical and critical inquiry, fostering interdisciplinary approaches that engage material experimentation, contemporary technologies, and cultural reflection within the fields of art and design.
During the Kosovo Architecture Festival 2026 Mayra will be co-mentoring a 5 days workshop focused on Palestinian territories together with Young Palestinian Architecture Fellows, as well as hold a keynote lecture.
