Inspired by the natural world and the rich architecture of her native country, Joana Santos Barbosa’s modern furniture comprises a harmonious blend of organic forms and geometric accuracy. The award-winning architect and furniture designer is considered one of the top 10 contemporary designers from Portugal, with pieces created by her firm InsidherLand sought by interior designers, architects, hotel brands and modern furniture collectors worldwide.
Born in 1981 in Porto, Santos Barbosa studied architecture at the University of Porto. After graduating in 2006, she studied interior design at Central Saint Martins School of Arts and Design in London.
In 2012, Santos Barbosa formed the furniture design company InsidherLand which uses traditional Portuguese handcrafting techniques to create high-quality furniture, lighting, upholstery and home decor.
Elements of nature feature predominantly in many of Santos Barbosa’s designs, such as the Three Rocks side table, Tree Branches wall lamp, Na Pali coffee table and the Arizona mirror, which was named Best Furniture Design at the iLuxury Awards in 2021.
In contrast, several of Santos Barbosa’s pieces are influenced by architecture and symmetry. The Arches dining room chair (winner of Best Chair Design at the 2011 International Design and Architecture Awards), Looshaus table lamp and rounded Niemeyer armchair and sofa (named for legendary Brazilian modernist designer and architect Oscar Niemeyer) are some examples.
Barbosa’s designs, which she describes as “falling between sinuous elegance and harsh aggressiveness,” have gained worldwide attention among critics and industry experts. She was invited to exhibit at the XX Triennale International Exhibition, and her works have been shown regularly in exhibitions throughout London, Paris and Milan. Several international publications have also featured her designs, including Harper’s Bazaar (Vietnam), Architectural Digest (Spain) and Interior Designer (UK).
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Joana Santos Barbosa seating, tables and lighting.
Organic nature-inspired brushed brass COM Figueroa ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Located in the sunny California, the charming Figueroa Mountain is a magical landscape that led to the creation of the Figueroa stool. The exquisite sto...
Brass
Modern beige lamb fur hammered brass Tree Branches long bench by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The Tree Branches long bench is entirely handcrafted in brass with a hammered technique similar to the irregular details of real branches. The top in Mongolian Lamb fur completes th...
Brass
Contemporary geometric serandite bouclé handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in bouclé involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Wood, Bouclé
Contemporary geometric fern green bouclé handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in bouclé involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
Contemporary geometric black velvet handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in velvet involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Contemporary geometric handmade in Portugal COM Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in velvet involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Wood
Contemporary geometric pink velvet handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in velvet involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Contemporary geometric ivory velvet handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in velvet involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Nature inspired Art Nouveau style walnut COM Na Pali ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Na Pali means “the cliffs” and is a breathtaking landscape located on Kauai, a volcanic island resulting from the rain and the blasts of winter waves against t...
Velvet, Walnut, Fabric, Wood
Modern beige lamb fur brushed brass Tree Branches bench by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The original tree branches bench is entirely handcrafted in brass with a hammered technique similar to the irregular details of real branches. Th...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern cream bouclé dark oak Niemeyer II ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The Niemeyer II stool is a curvy seating, designed to complement the rounded shapes of the Niemeyer II armchair. Named after the Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer, the rounded flowi...
Bouclé, Oak
Modern white lamb fur bronzed brushed brass Tree Branches bench by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The original tree branches bench is entirely handcrafted in brass with a hammered technique similar to the irregular details of real branches. This bench...
Brass, Metal
Contemporary geometric brown velvet handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in velvet involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Contemporary geometric grey velvet handmade Rock ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
Rock is a stool with the same form of the smaller table of the Three Rocks set. The handcrafted upholstery work in velvet involves this unique creation with irregular shapes, turning...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Mid-Century Modern round white bouclé oak Niemeyer II ottoman by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The Niemeyer II stool is a curvy seating, designed to complement the rounded shapes of the Niemeyer II armchair. Named after the Brazilian Archite...
Oak, Bouclé
Mid-Century Modern round COM natural oak Niemeyer II ottoman by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The Niemeyer II stool is a curvy seating, designed to complement the rounded shapes of the Niemeyer II armchair. Named after the Brazilian Archite...
Oak, Fabric, Wood
Contemporary geometric handmade COM Not a Cube ottoman by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
Not a Cube is a geometric composition that follows the reductionist tendencies of Minimal Art, emerged in the United States in the mid-1960s. Particularly i...
Fabric
Nino Pouf with Brass Plinth, Available Now
Located in Frazão, Porto
NINO stool: STOCK UNIT - Available for immediate delivery The Nino Pouf is full of luxurious details, such as the buttons and skirting board in brushed brass, the piping in a contra...
Brass
$4,060
H 15.75 in W 31.5 in D 14.18 in
Josef Frank Bench in Mahogany and Brass Nails, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Josef Frank & SCANDINAVIAN MODERN A beautiful bench by Josef Frank, for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1960s. The frame is made of mahogany, upholstered seat with brass nails. The feet are elegantly sculpted and the bench can also be used as a table, end of bed stool...
Fabric, Mahogany
Stool Vincent Vincent "80/20" Burnt Wood Organic Modern - VV112
By Vincent Vincent
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Danke galerie is pleased to present the latest creation of the cabinetmaker Vincent Vincent. This Ethnic inspired stool in solid beech wood will bring a ...
Beech
$580 / item
H 17.72 in W 13 in D 13 in
Mid Century Style Triangle Stool in Nouvelles Vagues, by Vintola Studio, Europe
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools inspired by 60s style. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. They are absolutely unique. We can prepare them also in another wood and boucle color. Designed in 2022 in Poland. About the fabric: The warp and weft of an idea A velvet jacquard that pays a visual and tactile homage to the tiger’s coat...
Bouclé, Velvet, Wood
$696 / item
H 23.63 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Mid-Century Style Blue Velvet Triangle Medium Stool, by Vintola Studio, Europe
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Comfortable and stabile triangle stool. They are contemporary stools inspired of 1960s style. They can be used as a bar stools. Stool was designed by Vintola Studio, a Polish brand...
Bouclé, Velvet, Wood
Set of Three Italian Brass Chiavari Round Stools
By Fratelli Levaggi/Guiseppe Gaetano Descalzi
Located in Hanover, MA
Extremely rare set of three round brass Chiavari stools, made in Italy, circa 1960. Four legs with flared tapered legs around an upper and lower brass ring. Fitted round seat upholst...
Brass
$2,900
H 17.72 in W 19.69 in D 13.39 in
Stool Art Deco in Walnut by Gino Maggioni for Attelier Borsani Varedo Upholtered
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italy antique stool Art Deco in walnut by Gino Maggioni for Attelier Borsani Varedo new Upholtered, wax polished Measures cm: H 45, W 50, D 34.
Walnut
$2,134Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.51 in W 29.53 in D 18.9 in
Italian Design Rectangular Black Leather and Chrome-Plated Brass Bench
Located in Brescia, IT
This contemporary style bench in cow black leather, is totally hand made in Italy. The feet are in chrome plated brass. The dimensions make it useful as coffee table.
Brass
Pair of 20th Century Green Stools, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful velvet green upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic...
Velvet, Beech
From $1,630 / item
+ 1 moreH 16.75 in W 19.63 in D 15.75 in
Cluster Stool in Carved, Solid Wood by Craig Bassam
By BassamFellows
Located in Ridgefield, CT
Some of the most innovative, powerful design takes its strength from its sculptural elements. In certain cases, it is a sense of fragility that offers impact. At other times it is the imposing, muscular heft of the object that strikes a chord, a strong sense of presence. There have been many influential pieces of design from the last 100 years that have come from a utilitarian place. The Bassam Fellows...
Wood
$290 / item
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Light Beige Boucle Stool, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful, well crafted light boucle upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, ch...
Bouclé, Wood
Mid Century Leopard Velvet Stool, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful velour jacquard upholstery in leopard print. About the fabric: Wildlife is taking a place in your interiors through the Leopa...
Velvet, Wood