- Design
Founded in 2020 by Patrick Penha, Atelier Penha began as a quiet, hands-on exploration. Working from his garage, Patrick experimented with microtopping and waxed concrete, drawn by the tactile possibilities these finishes offered. Friends and family took notice, and from that point, the ball started rolling. What began as a personal process quickly became a shared one.
To meet growing demand, Patrick moved the studio to a larger space and welcomed his son Sebastian into the workshop. With a trained eye and deep respect for material, he brought technical precision to the family’s creative process. Their collaboration sharpened the studio’s approach, and the choice to work exclusively with mortex became central to that refinement. Known for its distinctive texture and exceptional resilience, mortex allows to create sculptural, high-end pieces that are both elegant and durable. 
In 2023, Emmalee Penha joined the business, taking on marketing and operations. Her presence completed the family circle and helped turn the workshop into a well-organised studio with a clear voice and vision. Together, the trio balances craft, aesthetics, and structure, shaping each piece with care while managing every stage of production internally. That full control ensures a level of consistency and responsiveness that clients, particularly interior professionals, have come to rely on. 
Known for its distinctive texture and exceptional resilience, mortex allows to create sculptural, high-end pieces that are both elegant and durable.
Atelier Penha focuses primarily on bespoke and private-label creations for the B2B market. Interior designers, concept stores and project developers collaborate with the team to develop custom tables and interior objects that reflect a shared commitment to quality and detail. The studio offers basic forms that can be fully tailored in size, finish, colour and combination with other materials. This flexibility allows clients to align each piece with their own design language, while benefiting from the studio’s material expertise. 
Het ontwerpproces is bewust eenvoudig: het begint met een gesprek, gevolgd door een voorstel op maat, productie en levering. Elke stap wordt met transparantie en helderheid benaderd, ook wat de prijszetting betreft. Atelier Penha ontwikkelde een digitaal hulpmiddel waarmee klanten al in een vroeg stadium een kostenraming kunnen maken – een stimulans voor open communicatie en vertrouwen. Maar naast systemen en tools staat vooral de familiegedreven aanpak centraal: praktrijkgericht, samenwerkend en geworteld in gedeelde waarden. Elk object wordt doordacht gemaakt om lang mee te gaan in materiaal en betekenis.
The design process is deliberately straightforward: it begins with a conversation, followed by a tailored proposal, production, and delivery. Each stage is handled with clarity and openness, including pricing. Atelier Penha developed a digital tool to help clients estimate costs early in the process, encouraging transparency and trust. But beyond systems and tools, what defines the studio is its family-driven approach: hands-on, collaborative, and grounded in shared values. Every object is carefully considered and built to last, both in material and meaning.
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Portrait by Elien Jansen
Project image 1 by Ian Hermans, Design by oyister Studio, client Elliot & Ostrich Jewellery
Atelier image 1 by Elien Jansen
Atelier image 4 by Elien Jansen
Project image 5 by Elien Jansen
Text by Carolien Depamelaere