Design is the art of harmonizing seemingly unrelated subjects and objects. The slash “\” symbolizes our vision of connecting unrelated topics, representing a shift that brings together diverse elements to form a unified whole. This approach emphasizes our commitment to integrating various aspects - from the project’s scope to its thematic meaning - into a cohesive design.
theme \ embodies a design approach that reinvents architectural and planning topics through the sense of space, design process, and energy in built environments.
theme \ sense of space
A built environment is a cultural setting. We observe people - their stories, visions, habits, and material culture - to create a theme through which we explore the economic, energetic, and cultural possibilities of the space. In this context, the project becomes an open learning platform that engages with the geo-historical ingredients of the site. Design serves as a tool to translate these elements into a culturally relevant space.
The generation of meaning for a project is intimately connected with the design and construction processes. Meaning is, in fact, the outcome of our development process, where all the puzzle pieces of the space come together to form a material manifestation of the project’s story.
theme \ process
We develop our projects through a systematic design process made possible by collaborative working sessions and customized design workshops with our clients, external consultants, contractors, craftsmen, and, when accessible, end-users. The newly Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method can be a valuable tool to address economic, socio-cultural, ecological, and aesthetic challenges in a holistic manner, from project initiation to post-construction evaluation phases.
We design through the act of making, merging the roles of planners, architects, engineers, and builders into a synchronized, cohesive workflow. Our use of freehand drawing, digital modeling (BIM), physical model-making, and full-scale mock-ups forms an integral part of project conceptualization, communication, and delivery. This methodology engages with full-scale design problems to explore construction materials and methods. The integration of design and construction revives the role of the “Master Builder” to confront the ecological concerns of our future built environments.
In parallel with our material investigations, we develop diagrammatic solutions to address programmatic challenges. From this perspective, the place-making process becomes a transversal passage between art, scenography, and design, aiming to reconstruct the narrative of the site through material and immaterial cultural insights drawn from geographical and historical references.
Our process is closely linked to design research and education. We closely collaborate with universities, colleges, and research centers. In a broader sense, our firm establishes a design approach that we aim to pass on to the next generation of designers and thinkers.
theme \ energy
The question of energy in built environments is not merely a technical response to site characteristics or programmatic needs. It resonates with and reconnects to the broader processes through which a space is imagined, materialized, used, and eventually transformed.
From an “imagination” perspective, we embrace a holistic design methodology that develops the project within its ecosystem, from micro to macro scales, rather than as a mere composition of independent building components. We design urban spaces and architectural projects not only as physical products but as manifestations of an eco-friendly lifestyle. This approach synthesizes economy, society, durability, and aestheticism into a series of “integrated diagrams and technologies,” creating a unique system for each project.
From a “materialization” perspective, we assess the choice of materials contributing to embodied energy, tailoring each selection to the unique context of every project. We advocate for the use and exposure of geo-based, renewable, reused, and recycled materials to create a ‘healthy body’ for our built environments. However, integrating these materials into the ‘whole’ building system requires contextual innovation. Here, we draw on the rich history of construction - from the most sophisticated to the most informal or vernacular - to learn from, evaluate, and reinterpret in our design and construction processes.
From “use and transformation” perspectives, we rethink operational energy as a temporal and dynamic element. A climatically-responsible design demonstrates its integrative nature through continuous interactions with the underground (the “sous-sol” of Dominique Perrault), the ground (Le Corbusier’s “pilotis”), and the upper levels (Renzo Piano’s high-tech building envelopes). However, we treat these levels as a unified whole - resilient to the earth and responsive to the sky. For us, the question of passive solar systems involves a transdisciplinary design approach, simultaneously addressing economic, technical, and social challenges. Unlike mechanical systems that operate independently, a passive solar strategy is an integral part of the living space, influencing and being influenced by its inhabitants. The cultural context in which these strategies are applied significantly impacts their effectiveness over time. This is where we develop our solutions for energy savings in buildings and places.