About Crivo
About us
Crivo Eco-Construção, Lda is a sustainable construction company based in Trás-os-Montes, northeast Portugal.
We appreciate the natural environment and its resources, and are inspired by cultural heritage within our region and beyond. Crivo aims to combine traditional knowledge with innovation to offer sustainable solutions to anyone - professional or amateur - interested in eco-construction.
‘Crivo’ is Portuguese for ‘sieve’.
About Crivo
Values
Sustainability for us means using natural resources responsibly and taking care of the environment, but also honouring cultural heritage and social impact.
Crivo’s Founder
Nuno Martins
Nuno Martins grew up in Trás-os-Montes. At an early age he started working with his father and grandfather, learning to construct dry stone walls, and to apply the natural lime and clay plasters that decorate the region. Over the last 15 years, Nuno has continued to develop his natural building knowledge and skills, in part by co-founding Palombar, Association for Nature Preservation and Cultural Heritage in Trás-os-Montes. He has led numerous restoration projects and technical workshops, attended courses by national and international experts and worked to revive local architecture - dovecotes, mills, ovens and houses - using different techniques such as dry stone walls, earth and lime, tabique walls and carpentry.
Since 2016, Nuno has also been providing sustainable energy solutions for lighting, water heating and irrigation systems for local homes and farms.
Our principles
Source materials locally
Avoid harmful chemicals
Minimise waste
Respect regional traditions
Employ local people
Share knowledge