Designer & Founder

I am Vanessa Soria Lima, a London-based designer working at the intersection of ceramics and architecture.

I grew up in a small town between Brazil and Bolivia, in the Amazon region, where intense heat and humidity shape daily life. Living in those conditions made me acutely aware of how architecture can either amplify discomfort or quietly support wellbeing. That early experience continues to inform my practice.

During my MA in Interior and Spatial Design at Camberwell College of Arts, I began investigating clay and terracotta as architectural materials capable of improving environmental comfort. I was particularly interested in how simple material intelligence — such as porosity, geometry, and airflow — could contribute to more sustainable building practices without relying on complex mechanical systems.

From this research, Mama’s Bricks emerged.

Mama’s Bricks is a material-led studio exploring terracotta as an environmental mediator. Through perforated geometries and the natural porosity of clay, the bricks are designed to enable natural ventilation, allow light permeability, and support passive cooling in built environments.

Alongside climate-responsive terracotta systems, the studio also develops bespoke glazed bricks and tiles in collaboration with architects and designers. These elements focus on surface, colour, and architectural expression while maintaining the integrity of ceramic craft.

The work sits between craft and construction — drawing on vernacular knowledge while reinterpreting it through contemporary architectural thinking.

At its core, Mama’s Bricks is rooted in a simple belief: improving the way we build can improve the way we live.