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Sustainable News

A platform for recycling coffee capsules

By Zarkon Group,15/04/2023

Spotted: Coffee is a popular drink, and the market continues to grow, with an increasing number of people turning to the convenience of coffee pods at home and at work. The problem with these capsules is that very few are recycled, with leading coffee brand Nespresso estimating that only 30 per cent of its consumers recycle the pods. One of the main stumbling blocks in recycling coffee capsules are the grounds that remain in the pod after it has been used.

Spanish company Recycap is making it easier for home users to recycle both the capsules themselves and leftover grounds with its React (Recycap Automated Coffee Technology) recycling device. Used pods are tossed into the device that then automatically cleans the capsules and separates the two materials for easier, more sustainable disposal.

The grounds can be collected for composting, and the cleaned capsules become recyclable in standard facilities. By removing the need for recycling facilities to separate organic waste from metal, the React device could save billions of pieces of recyclable rubbish from ending up in landfill or being incinerated.

The React device has the capacity to recycle up to 600 capsules per hour, making the technology convenient for large office buildings and in high traffic public spaces, such as grocery and convenience stores. Recycap has also created a coffee machine with the recycling technology integrated, so users can minimise the number of appliances they have on countertops. Available in red, black, or white, the coffee machine is compatible with most brands of coffee pods, making it easy to switch to a more sustainable brewing system.

The startup recently raised €400,000 to further develop its technologies and get them on the market.

Other coffee-focused innovations that Springwise has spotted include car interiors made from coffee pulp and a platform that encourages environmentally responsible coffee bean production.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Exterior of Victorian house in Melbourne

Architecture

Matt Gibson adds sculptural extension to Victorian Melbourne home

By Zarkon Group,15/04/2023

Australian studio Matt Gibson Architecture + Design has transformed a Victorian home in Melbourne’s suburbs with a faceted extension clad in black metal.

Located in the suburb of South Yarra, the house on St Martins Lane has been expanded with a three-storey rear extension to better accommodate the needs of the family living there.

The house occupies a long, thin site at the end of a row of Victorian terraces that are surrounded by low-rise warehouses and townhouses.

To preserve the heritage of the home, Matt Gibson Architecture + Design has retained several of its original elements including its street-facing Victorian facade.

Exterior of St Martins Lane extension in Melbourne by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design — It has a faceted form clad in black metal

“[The house is] a case study in vertical family living on a confined site,” explained the studio.

“[It addresses] issues of densification and growing population demand whilst adaptively reusing and retaining key heritage fabric.”

Faceted black extension to white-brick house — A new entrance has been created on the adjacent lane

As part of the project, Matt Gibson Architecture + Design shifted the home’s main entrance from the street edge to a cobbled lane that runs down the side of the plot.

This new entry point sits towards the centre of the site and is marked internally with a glazed stair that bridges the existing house to the sculptural extension.

Monochrome kitchen by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design — The old part of the house has been updated with a new kitchen

“The stair has full view of the laneway, activating it and providing a level of security and community connection,” said Matt Gibson Architecture + Design.

The placement of this staircase also divides the home into two wings – one old and one new.

Inside, the old part of the house has been updated with a new kitchen and a main bedroom suite, while the extension contains a living space, two bedrooms, a study and cascading terraces.

The two wings are distinguished externally by their contrasting material finishes, including white-painted brick and intricate wooden filigree on the old Victorian house, and the faceted black laser-cut metal facade of the extension.

Interior of St Martins Lane extension in Melbourne by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design — The extension contains the living space

Perforations in the metal make reference to the original architecture of the house and allow light and ventilation into the bedrooms while providing privacy.

A sliding gate reveals a path of mossy stones that lead from the cobbled lane to an enclosed porch of black metal and marble. The porch gives views through to the living space and garden beyond and contains a monolithic door that opens into a tiled hallway featuring the main staircase.

Enclosed garden — There are a series of outdoor spaces

The ground floor is given over to generous communal spaces. This includes a kitchen of blackened wood and dark marble in the old part of the house and a bright living room in the new wing with a sculptural concrete stair leading to a basement library.

Both the kitchen and living room are bookended by enclosed outdoor spaces with green borders.

Roof terrace in Melbourne — A rooftop deck crowns the home

On the upper floors of the home are the family’s bedrooms and the outdoor terraces overlooking the trees beyond the site. A warm wood-panelled stair from the second floor leads to a roof deck that crowns the extension.

“Through arranging the building vertically there is an increase in outdoor space coverage to now over 50 per cent of the site area,” said Gibson. “Previously [it was] 10 per cent.”

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design was founded in 2003. The studio has completed several other refurbishments and extensions across Melbourne, including a home with courtyards and glazed bridge and a redbrick extension with glazed undercroft.

The photography is by Shannon McGrath.

Reference

Retroscena apartment renovation by La Macchina Studio in Rome, Italy

Interior Design

Ten living spaces that are punctuated by saturated primary colours

By Zarkon Group,15/04/2023

Our latest lookbook compiles residential living rooms that have been given an air of playfulness through their use of the three primary colours.

In design, the primary colours are yellow, blue and red. They usually appear in this context as strong cobalt blues, vivid sunshine yellows and intense fire-engine reds.

This trio of colours is prevalent throughout design history and can be seen in paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and suspended mobiles by American sculptor Alexander Calder.

They are often used when designing products for children due to the visually stimulating nature of their bright, dense hues.

In interior design, they have a similarly invigorating effect, whether applied directly to structural elements such as walls and columns or found in soft furnishings and accessories.

They primary colours help to bring energy into living areas both when used in isolation and when appearing in tandem with one another.

This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring four-poster beds, split-level living areas and colourful bathrooms.

Retroscena apartment, Italy, by La Macchina Studio

Vibrant pops of blue, yellow and red are set against a neutral backdrop of white walls and terrazzo stone floors in the living room of this mid-century one-bedroom apartment in Rome.

The space represents the distilled interior scheme devised by Italian architecture practice La Macchina Studio that characterises the apartment, which is also home to floor-to-ceiling citrus-toned curtains and bright blue doorways.

Find out more about Retroscena ›

Living room in red House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor by Arquitectura-G — Photo by José Hevia

House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

A monochromatic red colour scheme dominates both the exterior and interior of this rural house near Barcelona designed by Spanish design studio Arquitectura-G.

The split-level living space features a rhythm of striking red-painted columns and ceiling-height cupboard doors combined with rosy clay tiles.

Find out more about House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor ›

Lounge in Red House by David Kohn Architects — Photo by Will Pryce

Red House, UK, by David Kohn Architects

Red House in Dorset, England, was given its name by David Kohn Architects in reference to its red brick facade, however, splashes of the colour also appear throughout its eclectic interior.

Primary coloured furnishings – including a blue rug and footstool, red wall hanging and yellow upholstered armchair – are dotted around the living space, offset by white-painted cinderblock walls and warm wooden accents.

Find out more about Red House ›

Living room interior of Out of the Blue apartment in India — Photo by The Fishy Project

Out of the Blue, India, by The Act of Quad

Renovated by Mumbai-based studio The Act of Quad, this apartment in the Indian city of Thane is defined by its consistent use of cobalt blue in an otherwise neutral interior.

Soothing splashes of the colour appear in pieces of bespoke furniture – including hemispherical and spherical inclusions on light fittings and tables – and line the inside of a wall-mounted drinks cabinet.

Find out more about Out of the Blue ›

Living room interior with red cupboards and blue table — Photo by Jesper Westblom

Apartment renovation, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor

The full trio of primary colours is used across this apartment in Stockholm by local practice Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor.

Blue, yellow and red are seen in both full saturation and muted hues on walls, ceilings, soft furnishings and furniture, creating a colourful yet cohesive interior.

Find out more about apartment renovation ›

Duplex in Sant Gervasi by Arquitectura-G — Photo is by José Hevia

Apartment renovation, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

Spanish studio Arquitectura-G used a colour palette governed by shades of yellow in its refurbishment of this apartment in Barcelona.

The living space contains a sunny yellow modular sofa and matching kitchenette, with the spaces united by a backdrop of small golden wall tiles, a honey-coloured wooden floor and white plasterwork.

Find out more about this apartment renovation ›

Interior of Fàng Sōng houseboat in Berlin by Crossboundaries — Photo by Johanna Link

Fàng Sōng, Germany, by Crossboundaries

Beijing-based architecture practice Crossboundaries reconfigured the interior of a houseboat moored in Berlin, which features modular furniture and storage solutions all finished in either red or yellow in reference to the Chinese imperial colours.

An adaptable living area onboard contains a lemon-yellow sofa that folds away to support a double bed, as well as a cantilevered desk integrated into a wall panel that can be stowed away when not in use.

Find out more about Fàng Sōng ›

Point Supreme Athens apartment — Photo by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis and Point Supreme

Ilioupoli Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme

Graphic primary-coloured details are scattered around this 56-square-metre subterranean apartment in Athens renovated by local architecture studio Point Supreme.

The rough concrete walls and ceilings of the small living area are contrasted by red items – including a bench and window panes – as well as a trio of deep blue flags suspended in the entryway.

Find out more about Ilioupoli Apartment ›

Function Walls apartment, designed by Lookofsky Architecture — Photo by Mattias Hamrén

Function Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture

This apartment in Stockholm, which was renovated by local studio Lookofsky Architecture, is designed around a multifunctional wall that snakes through the interior.

In the living area, the zesty yellow structure contains a sofa snuggled inside an extruded frame, accompanied by integrated shelving and matching golden upholstery.

Find out more about Function Walls ›

Interiors of Polychrome House, designed by Amber Road — Photo by Prue Ruscoe

Polychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith

Australian design studio Amber Road worked with colour consultants Lymesmith on this house in suburban Sydney, which is charactertised by its excessive use of colour.

The aptly named Polychrome House is finished in a kaleidoscopic spectrum of colours, including in its living room where a wall mural of abstract shapes featuring red, blue and yellow is echoed by red and blue seating.

Find out more about Polychrome House ›

Reference

Sustainable News

Powering direct air capture with geothermal energy

By Zarkon Group,14/04/2023

Spotted: As the United Nations (UN) highlights, on the whole, commitments made by governments to cut emissions haven’t been fulfilled, meaning we are falling short of net-zero goals for 2050. And, energy consumption and corresponding carbon emissions are only set to rise with the growing global population. Changes to existing energy-heavy practices are unlikely to be enough to stop or significantly slow climate change, which is where carbon capture comes in. However, direct air capture (DAC) technologies – where CO2 is extracted from the ambient air – often rely on energy sources like fossil fuels to work, making them unsustainable long term. Enter Fervo Energy.

The US-based company is already a leader in the next generation of geothermal power, and earlier this year announced plans for a fully integrated geothermal and DAC facility with financial support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).

In DAC facilities, large fans are used to blow ambient air over carbon-dioxide-capturing materials. The sequestered CO2 is then heated, refined, and generally stored deep underground using a pump. In Fervo’s proposed designs, all of these processes would be fueled by geothermal power, in which heat from the Earth’s core is used to produce clean and renewable electricity. This makes it possible to clean our atmosphere of carbon without emitting any further pollution. As well as being a renewable source that is available 24/7, the company also emphasises that the use of geothermal power would allow DAC technologies to be operated at lower costs.

The recent grant from CZI will help make Fervo’s designs a reality, allowing the company to explore local geothermal reservoirs for underground carbon sequestration projects. Fervo aims to have a pilot facility up and running in three to five years, according to reports in the Washington Post.

Other innovations in the geothermal industry spotted by Springwise include a new ultra-deep drilling technique, and heating and cooling system designed for use by homeowners.

Written By: Keely Khoury and Matilda Cox

Reference

Rendering of technology products, with a grey-green cannisters at the front in a small cart, a rectangular grey machine in the middle and a pick-up truck at the back edge of the frame

Sustainable News

Layer designs Croft system to power vehicles with hydrogen

By Zarkon Group,14/04/2023

Benjamin Hubert’s studio Layer has worked with US start-up Croft to design a system of products for retrofitting vehicles to run on green hydrogen.

The Nanoplant and Nanocartridges are the first prototypes from Croft, which is currently raising funds for the project, and enable users to produce their own solid-state hydrogen to power cars, trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.

With an appearance similar to a large home battery, the Nanoplant uses electricity and water from the mains supply to carry out electrolysis — the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The hydrogen obtained in this process is known as “green hydrogen” because, if it is produced using renewable energy, it creates no greenhouse gas emissions. This is in contrast to “blue hydrogen”, which is produced from natural gas and creates some emissions.

The Nanoplant contains a pull-out drawer with room for four Nanocartridges, which store the hydrogen by sticking it to the surface of a proprietary particulate. According to the brand, this method stores the hydrogen densely and at low pressure, making it a safe solution that also gives more power and range than electric batteries.

According to Layer, Croft is “dedicated to creating a blueprint for an enduring, scalable, green-hydrogen economy” and offers its technology at a much lower cost than other hydrogen storage solutions on or near the market.

Rendering of the Nanoplant with front surface removed, showing interior machinery connected with tubes and displaying switches and buttons — The Nanoplant produces hydrogen by splitting it from water through electrolysis

The studio says the product is best suited for larger vehicles in environments with little fast-charging infrastructure, and that heavy-duty pick-up trucks for farming, forestry, construction and other industries are the first target.

“Batteries are great to decarbonise smaller passenger vehicles that get used in gentle, predictable ways with access to good charging infrastructure,” Hubert told Dezeen.

“However, lots of mobility applications don’t match that description, and there, we need a power source that is denser than batteries and has fewer dependencies on infrastructure,” he added.

“Hydrogen stores significantly more energy in less space and with less weight than batteries, and it’s much easier to use hydrogen in environments with weak grids or where charging otherwise isn’t available.”

Rendering of the bed of a pick-up truck with modules for holding Croft hydrogen Nanocartridges — The technology is said to be best for heavy-duty vehicles like pick-up trucks

Hubert said that, at least in the short term, hydrogen would be a complement to electric vehicle technology, not a competitor.

“It’s a great complementary solution to batteries, and as with all things, it’s important to pick the right tool for the right job,” he continued.

To retrofit a vehicle with the technology, Croft removes most of the components of the power train and replaces them with its hydrogen storage system, a fuel cell, electric motors and other components, while reprogramming the vehicle’s onboard computer to utilise them.

Layer led the design and engineering of the Nanoplant and Nanocartridges, endeavouring to make them straightforward and easy to understand while also giving them an aesthetic that would communicate robustness and technological prowess.

Rendering of two pale grey-green cannisters with Croft printed on the side, contained in rectangular frames and with a circular indicator dial on the top surface — The Nanocartridges store hydrogen in a solid state and at low pressure

The Nanoplant is modular and infinitely expandable — additional Nanoplant modules can be connected horizontally, each with the capacity for four Nanocartridges.

Each module has a minimal user interface on its front that counts down the time left to complete the recharge, and there is also a hose module for on-board charging. The drawer containing Nanocartridges can also double as a cart for transporting them to the vehicle.

The Nanocartridges weigh 14 to 16 kilograms and have four side handles, creating a cubic frame that can be easily gripped and stacked. A circular indicator on the top surface shows the cartridge’s remaining hydrogen capacity.

Rendering of an arm refuelling a truck with hydrogen from a hose as they would at a petrol pump — The system includes a hose for on-board charging

According to Layer, each cartridge has a range of 20 to 80 miles depending on the size of the vehicle and how hard it works.

“In addition to rapid fueling, cartridges also allow operators to carry additional fuel with them or receive rescue fuel if an asset gets stranded in the field, two features that today’s battery vehicles lack,” said Hubert.

In addition to its product design work, Layer created the brand identity for Croft, including the brandmark and packaging.

Layer also designed the brand identity and packaging for Croft

The brandmark is based on an abstracted letter “H”, which has been stylised to also look like a road vanishing into the distance. It will be used in many ways, including debossed into products, applied as a micro-pattern to create texture, and as a call to action on interaction points.

Layer has been embracing emerging technologies, and has recently also worked on the Ledger Stax hardware wallet for storing cryptocurrency and the Viture One video streaming glasses.

Reference

Architecture

20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru

By Zarkon Group,14/04/2023

Located on the western coast of South America, Peru is home to an incredible geography composed of vast mountainscapes, coastlines, rainforests and desert lands. From the Amazon rainforest to the Andes mountains, Peruvian civilizations have been shaped by the country’s unique geography, breeding an architectural language closely connected to nature. The incredible breadth of Peruvian architecture is hard to summarize in one sitting. From its pronounced archeology, diverse history, lively cities and rich landscapes, Peru is brimming with seemingly endless places to explore.

One can summarize the nation’s architecture through three lenses, which all remain visible today: pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary. For example, the masterly craft of Inca stonemasons is seen in the numerous archeological sites across the country, like Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo. The Spanish colonial period is still reflected in the Baroque and Renaissance structures in cities like Lima. This well-preserved architectural landscape creates an interesting canvas for modern-day designers. Indeed, contemporary Peruvian design often fuses modern building ideologies with vernacular tradition, creating spatial expressions that are environmentally attuned and culturally significant.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Peru based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Peru architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 20 best architecture firms in Peru:

20. ROMO Arquitectos

We are a design, architecture and construction studio. We take each order as unique. We work constantly reinventing our processes and adapting them in search of the best result. We do not believe in a standard for design and we seek to make it accessible to everyone. The firm was co-founded by Jose Luis Monteverde and Lorena Rotalde.

Some of ROMO Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ROMO Arquitectos achieve 20th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	1
Total Projects	1

19. BENAVIDES & WATMOUGH arquitectos

Benavides + Watmough arquitectos was founded in Lima, Peru in 1993, as an office for research, design and architectural projects. Their work spans a wide range of scales and programs: from a small beach house, to a medium-scale multi-family building, to a new university campus. In their work there is a continuous exploration regarding the management of space and light, with the well-being of the occupants being a constant concern.

As far as possible, their projects seek to “create the city” by incorporating the urban space into its dynamics, while in the case of working in the landscape, respect for it and proper implementation on the ground is essential. The work of Benavides + Watmough has been published in various national and international magazines.

Some of BENAVIDES & WATMOUGH arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped BENAVIDES & WATMOUGH arquitectos achieve 19th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	1
Total Projects	2

18. DA-LAB ARQUITECTOS

Da Lab is a multidisciplinary team of architects, artists and designers with more than 10 years of experience in residential, commercial and office projects. It was founded in 2014 but the idea had already been born long before. Rodrigo Velasco and Javier Saavedra, partners and founders of the studio, both graduates of the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (UPC), met in 1997 at the Santa María Marianistas school and since then they dreamed of what Da Lab is today. In 2022, we expanded our horizons by opening a new office in Miami, USA.

Some of DA-LAB ARQUITECTOS’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped DA-LAB ARQUITECTOS achieve 18th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	1
Total Projects	2

17. Atelier Lima

ATELIER LIMA is made up of a team of professionals with the intention of contributing to the relevant aspects of the discipline, such as creativity, customer satisfaction, commitment to the environment, and knowledge generation through research and research. experimentation. Architecture is an experience in which people relate to their environment, their way of life, their thoughts and desires, for this reason we believe that the application of factors such as professional dedication, theory, technology and technology is necessary. economic strategy to innovate and create added value.

Some of Atelier Lima’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Atelier Lima achieve 17th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	1
Total Projects	4

16. Barclay and Crousse Architecture

Barclay & Crousse was founded in 1994 in Paris, France. Since 2006 the studio is based in Lima, maintaining their activity in France with Guilhem Roustan and Jean Marc Viste, partners of the new Parisian studio Atelier Nord-Sud.

Their work manage a wide range of programs, in France and Peru, and focuses both on the relationship to landscape and human wellbeing through pertinence in use, space and light. The aim of their buildings is to improve the natural and built environment with a rational and sustainable approach, in which the human being is a central issue.

Some of Barclay and Crousse Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Barclay and Crousse Architecture achieve 16th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	1
Total Projects	4

15. Cheng Franco Arquitectos

CFA is an architectural studio interested in the production of designs and studies in the fields of architecture and urbanism including interior and furniture design. Its team has 10 years of professional experience in the UK and has collaborated in projects around Europe, Asia, America and the Middle East.

Cheng Franco Architects was founded in 2012 in Lima, Peru by Jorge Cheng and Lorena Franco after having completed their 2 years postgraduate studies in Europe (Architectural Association / Berlage Institute) and after working during 8 years at renowned architectural practices in London such as Michael Aukett Architects and Foster + Partners.

Some of Cheng Franco Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Cheng Franco Arquitectos achieve 15th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	1

14. Reusche Reyna Atelier

We are an architecture studio specialized in housing, with more than 100 multi-family projects and 600,000 m2 of design. Our professional practice proposes creative and unique solutions to architectural problems, promoting both the commercial success of the project and its functionality, economy and aesthetics, respecting the city and its surroundings, to contribute to a better coexistence among society.

Some of Reusche Reyna Atelier’s most prominent projects include:

AVA 159 Building, Lima, Peru
General Iglesias Building, 505, Calle General Iglesias, Lima, Peru
Leonidas Avendaño Building, 181, Leonidas Avendano, Miraflores, Peru
Casimiro Ulloa Residential Building
Chamberí Building, Chamberi, Miraflores, Peru

The following statistics helped Reusche Reyna Atelier achieve 14th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

A+Awards Winner	1
Total Projects	15

13. LLOSA CORTEGANA ARQUITECTOS

Founded by architects Patricia Llosa and Rodolfo Cortegana since 2005, the studio investigates in relation to the individual/citizen as the central axis of architecture and how it relates to the environment from their circumstances. Placing architecture in a circumstantial state is to open possibilities for knowledge from uncertainty, a place where trial and error is used to think the discipline.

Each project is a possibility to build the reality of people from the subjectivity of human beings, territorial and climatic conditions, history, cultural manifestations and the discipline itself. The studio is a space for academic and professional reflection, closely related to the teaching of architecture.

Some of LLOSA CORTEGANA ARQUITECTOS’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped LLOSA CORTEGANA ARQUITECTOS achieve 13th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	2

12. Jaime Ortiz de Zevallos

Jaime Ortiz de Zevallos is an architect based in Lima, Peru. The office specializes in residential design.

Some of Jaime Ortiz de Zevallos’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Jaime Ortiz de Zevallos achieve 12th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	4

11. POGGIONE + BIONDI ARQUITECTOS

In 1999, René Poggione and Susel Biondi founded POGGIONE+BIONDI ARCHITECTS and since then they have been developing architectural, urban, landscape, commercial and institutional of various scales, both for public and private clients, highlighting the projects of housing, hotels, health and industry.

P+B is a personalized architecture workshop, which attends all its clients directly and very closely, offering them the work and the results they need. P+B designs aspire to beauty, ecological and economic efficiency, and environmental, social and cultural sustainability. POGGIONE+BIONDI wants its projects to be good for the people, good for the city, good for the planet.

Some of POGGIONE + BIONDI ARQUITECTOS’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped POGGIONE + BIONDI ARQUITECTOS achieve 11th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	2
Total Projects	4

10. Artadi Arquitectos

Architect Javier Artadi Is Professor of architectural design at the Faculty of Architecture at UPC (Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas), in Lima, Perú. His work is internationally recognized for its conceptual load, its abstract geometry and its strong relationship with the landscape of the desert coast of the Peru. He is regularly published in books and magazines of architecture across five continents and has presented his work at universities and architectural meets in North & South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

In 2012 Spanish Publishing house Loft Publications published his monograph on his work on the Peruvian coastal region which was presented at the Prague Festival of architecture. That same year he won the Grand Prix Casalgrande International in Milan, Italy, and the double gold medal in the Grand Prize VI Design Biennale South America. Javier represented Peru at the Venice Biennial of Architecture in 2012 and was later awarded the Orden del Sol from the Colegio de Arquitectos del Perú for his international recognition. Recently he was also awarded the great Padis de Cristal, created to honor contributions in outstanding design in Peru.

Some of Artadi Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Artadi Arquitectos achieve 10th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	4

9. NIKOLAS BRICEÑO arquitecto

Founded by Nikolas Briceno, this Miraflores-based firm specializes in architecture and landscape architecture. The studio embraces exploration as part of the design process to create sustainable projects that react sensitively to nature.

Some of NIKOLAS BRICEÑO arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:

Surrounded House, Lima, Peru
Viewpoint House, Lima, Peru
Bora Bora House, Asia District, Peru
Cockfighting Arena Garden, Lima, Peru
Porticos, Lima, Peru

The following statistics helped NIKOLAS BRICEÑO arquitecto achieve 9th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	6

8. Nómena

Nómena is an architecture studio based in Lima, Peru since 2007. Our outlook is always guided by design, with a focus on housing and urban articulation, and with careful attention to all scales of the service that we provide are the main elements of the Nómena method. We build meaning from architecture. All our projects propose a dialogue with the city and with the people who inhabit it, responding analytically and sensitively to the commissions we receive.

We design spaces thinking about their current use, but that are also capable of adapting to the changes of contemporary life. We like to think that our buildings get better over time, always trying to contribute positively to their context and the environment. We want to build the fabric of cities, piece by piece, without giving up the idea of creating unique works. More than thirty national and international awards and over sixty built works are the best proof of our consistency over fifteen years of work.

Some of Nómena’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Nómena achieve 8th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	3
Total Projects	4

7. Semillas

Semillas is a non-profit association with operations base in Lima, Pangoa (Junín region) and San Ignacio (Cajamarca region), founded in 2014 by Marta Maccaglia, after the experience of architecture and cooperation projects, since 2011. We are an interdisciplinary team of national and international professionals of architects, specialists in cooperation projects, builders and craftsmen. Young professionals join our team through internship programs.

Some of Semillas’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Semillas achieve 7th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	4

6. Juan Carlos Doblado

Doblado Arquitectos was founded in 1990 by Juan Carlos Doblado, an architect from Ricardo Palma University, with a Master’s degree from the National University of Engineering. Doblado Arquitectos’ work has been published in specialized publications in America, Europe and Asia.

Some of Juan Carlos Doblado ‘s most prominent projects include:

House in La Planicie, Alam.Jose Leon Barandiaran, La Molina, Lima, Peru
La Jolla Beach House I, Asia District, Peru
Vertical House, Lima, Peru
La Jolla Beach House II, Peru
La Isla Beach House, Asia District, Peru

The following statistics helped Juan Carlos Doblado achieve 6th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	9

5. Marina Vella Arquitecta

A pluridiciplinary architecture studio founded in Lima in 2011 by architect Marina Vella, after an academic process and professional experience in Peru and Switzerland. The studio understands the project as a question with infinite possible answers but only one particular answer that gives form and meaning, for which it develops a process of analysis of three factors: the characteristics of the place, the programmatic requirements and the genius loci of the place, what is not seen but perceived.

The link of these three factors is aligned with the studio’s fundamental design ideas (mantras): respecting and integrating the built elements into the context, minimizing the built area to maximize the exterior spaces, generating connections between users, passage and architecture, achieving a contemporary architecture that uses local techniques and resources, and creating a habitat in harmony with nature.

Some of Marina Vella Arquitecta’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Marina Vella Arquitecta achieve 5th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	5

4. Gonzalez Moix Arquitectura

Oscar Gonzalez Moix founded Gonzalez Moix Arquitectura in 1998 in Buenos Aires before moving his firm to Lima, Peru in 2022. The firm’s philosophy is creating habitable spaces through open minded thinking, adopting the realities of different perspectives and understanding people and their diverse cultures.

Some of Gonzalez Moix Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:

La Planicie House II, Lima, Peru
Cachalotes House, Lima, Peru
Pescados Capitales Restaurant, Lima, Peru
Plaza Cultural Norte, La Molina, Peru
ZENTRO, Lima, Peru

The following statistics helped Gonzalez Moix Arquitectura achieve 4th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	6

3. riofrio arquitectos

Founded by Peruvian architect Roberto Riofrio Navarro, riofrio arquitetos is a boutique practice based in Lima with a specialization in residential and furniture design.

Some of riofrio arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

House Casa Paracas, Paracas, Peru
House Playa El Golf H4, Asia District, Peru
House Playa Las Palmeras, Panamericana Sur, Peru
Casa LB3 Piura, Piura, Peru
Bogavante House, Paracas, Peru

The following statistics helped riofrio arquitectos achieve 3rd place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	10

2. Longhi Architects

Founded in 1996, Longhi Architects is an interdisciplinary practice involved in rigorous design and research that yields innovative solutions. With founder Luis Longhi serving as principal and design director, the firm consists of a small group who remain committed to the practice of architecture as a collaborative enterprise. The firm specializes in the artistic side of the profession having design and executed world recognized theater stages and public installations.

Some of Longhi Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Longhi Architects achieve 2nd place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	9

1. Martin Dulanto Arquitecto

Founded by Martin Dulanto Sangalli in 2012, Martin Dulanto Arquitecto is a Lima-based firm which specializes in residential architecture. The studio’s presence is recognized throughout Latin America.

Some of Martin Dulanto Arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:

Casa P12, Lima, Peru
Casa Seta, Asia District, Peru
Casa Blanca, Lima, Peru
Casa Maple, Lima, Peru
Casa Topo, Cieneguilla, Peru

The following statistics helped Martin Dulanto Arquitecto achieve 1st place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in Peru:

Featured Projects	9
Total Projects	14

Top image: Casa Lava by Martin Dulanto Arquitecto, Lima, Peru

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “”+”” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

Project completed within the last 3 years
A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
High quality, in focus photographs
At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

Reference

Interior Design

Prada opens patisserie Prada Caffè at Harrods

By Zarkon Group,14/04/2023

Fashion house Prada has opened the Prada Caffè in luxury department store Harrods, which has an interior that is blanketed in the brand’s signature green hue and mirrors one of Milan’s oldest patisseries.

Located at the corner of Hans Road in London, the Prada Caffè is accessed via a mint green latticed storefront that complements Harrods‘s Edwardian baroque terracotta facade.

The interior of the pop-up cafe draws on the interior of Pasticceria Marchesi, a Milanese patisserie that opened in 1824, which has similar pale-green interiors that are paired with green velvet-upholstered soft furnishings.

At Prada Caffè, the walls, ceilings and furniture – including booth seating, plush armchairs and architectural elements – were hued in a minty green referred to as Prada green, a colour that has become synonymous with the brand.

Interior photo of the Prada Caffè — It was decorated in Prada’s signature green colour

A large marble countertop, decorated with textural, pebbled panelling at its base, is located at the entrance to the cafe and used to display Prada-branded patisseries that are presented like individual pieces of jewellery.

The floors of the space were clad in black and white-checkered floor tiles in a nod to the floors of the Prada boutique located in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Interior image of the Prada Caffè — The interior referenced Prada stores and a Milanese patisserie

Floral reliefs and mouldings cover the walls and ceilings of the cafe, which the brand explained aims to evoke the look of Prada stores worldwide.

A mezzanine level, supported by green columns, is decorated with bowed balustrades and used as an elevated seating area overlooking the marble-wrapped patisserie counter.

At the rear of the cafe, a secluded room continues the interior scheme. Here, green velvet booth seating surrounds the perimeter of the space beneath decorative floral relief walls.

Tableware was selected specifically for the cafe and ranges from blue-hued Japanese porcelain, informed by ancient Celadon pottery and decorated with contrasting black lines, to blown-glass crystalware.

Photo of a seating area at the cafe at Harrods — A checkered floor runs through the cafe

To accompany the blown glassware and duck egg blue porcelain, silverware was engraved with Prada branding and features handle ends that are shaped like the brand’s triangular logo.

The cafe will remain at Harrods until January 2024.

Interior photo of the cafe at Harrods — Furniture was upholstered in velvet

During Milan Fashion Week, Prada presented its Autumn Winter 2023 collection in the Deposito of the Fondazione Prada, which featured a moving and retractable ceiling.

Elsewhere in London, Ola Jachymiak Studio brightened a cafe in Notting Hill incorporating terracotta-tile floors and tangerine-hued walls.

The photography is courtesy of Prada.

Reference

Sustainable News

A rapid cleaning machine for reusable glasses

By Zarkon Group,13/04/2023

Spotted: Europe’s top three coffee-consuming countries drink more than 1,000 cups per person every year. From free reusable crockery on German trains to additional fees charged to customers wanting to use single-use food packaging in the Netherlands, nations around the world are trialling ways to cut down on plastic pollution, particularly in the takeaway food and drink industry.

Many companies encourage the use and washing of mugs and bowls in the office, and with a goal of reducing the water used to provide such a service, French company Auum has created a new method of cleaning. The Auum-S single glass dishwasher is made from a patented design that disinfects reusable cups in 10 seconds, allowing one washer to clean up to 2,000 glasses per day. The company is building a circular economy with French-made parts and assembly, along with a rental service that ensures that machines are properly maintained, and glasses recycled at the end of their life.

Auum cups are made from double-walled borosilicate by Swiss glassmakers Bodum and the glasses can be custom branded. The glasses are lightweight and cool to the touch, even after cleaning. The countertop washer cleans a single glass using 140-degree Celsius dry steam and less than a single ounce of water per wash. The high temperature negates the need for chemicals.

The low rate of water use makes the washer much more economical, both financially and environmentally, than using biodegradable or paper cups or running a traditional dishwasher. In a company with 150 employees, using the Auum-S washer saves up 130,000 litres of water each year and eliminates close to 100,000 disposable cups.

Countertop appliances are getting smarter and smaller, with Springwise spotting a no-smell compost device as well as a homebrewing solution for plant-based milk.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Stella McCartney and Radiant Matter jumpsuit

Sustainable News

Ten different and everyday uses for bioplastics

By Zarkon Group,13/04/2023

A sequinned Stella McCartney bodysuit and styrofoam cups made from mealworms feature in this roundup highlighting innovative design projects that make use of bioplastics.

Bioplastics offer an alternative to traditional plastics, derived from renewable natural materials such as plants as opposed to petroleum.

To fight pollution, many are also designed to be compostable or biodegradable under specific conditions, for example in an industrial composter. However, experts have raised concerns that we currently lack the necessary waste management infrastructure to dispose of these bioplastics correctly.

While the debate about end-of-life wages on, brands and designers are continuing to explore how bioplastics can be used to wean the world off fossil fuels.

Read on for 10 projects from the Dezeen archive that explore different uses for bioplastics:

Radiant Matter sequin bodysuit by Stella McCartney

British fashion brand Stella McCartney recently launched a sleeveless body suit embellished with bioplastic sequins made from tree cellulose by material innovation company Radiant Matter.

The sequins were developed as a substitute for petroleum-based plastic embellishments, which the brand says can contain carcinogenic chemicals. Radiant Matter’s alternative is made from renewable cellulose extracted from trees, which has a crystalline form that reflects the light and provides the product with a sparkling quality.

Find out more about the sequin bodysuit ›

Bioplastic gift wrap by Natural Material Studio — Photo is by Peter Vinther

Calvin Klein gift wrap by Natural Material Studio

Last Christmas, Copenhagen-based Natural Material Studio created a bespoke bio-textile pouch to function as a gift-wrapping alternative for Calvin Klein products during the holiday season.

The material, called Procel, was developed by Natural Material Studio and is made from a protein bioplastic mixed with natural softeners and pigments. The pouches were designed to be reused and can alternatively be recycled. According to the studio, the product is also biodegradable.

Find out more about the biomaterial gift wrap ›

Kelp Mini Clutch by JK3D

Informed by kelp structures found along the coastline of Malibu, California, the Kelp Mini Clutch is a 3D-printed bioplastic bag created by Black Panther costume designer Julia Koerner for her brand JK3D.

The bag uses bioplastics derived from corn and soybeans for its construction and is 3D-printed to achieve a ribbed, lamella-like form reminiscent of the underside of mushrooms.

Find out more about Kelp Mini Clutch ›

Two hands using Great Wrap bioplastic cling film — Photo is by Shelley Horan

Clingfilm alternative by Great Wrap

Great Wrap is a bioplastic clingfilm alternative, which was designed to break down in a landfill or industrial compost within 180 days.

Australian biomaterials company Great Wrap produces the clingfilm by extracting and plasticising the starch found in waste potato peels. The resulting thermoplastic starch is then compounded with used cooking oil and a starchy root vegetable called cassava to change its polymer structure so it can be used as a stretch film.

Find out more about Great Wrap ›

Bioplastic vinyl by Evolution Music

Music and sustainability collective Evolution Music released a 12-inch vinyl record made from bioplastic following a four-year development process. This was needed to identify a base polymer that acts similarly to traditional PVC but without harmful and emissions-intensive ingredients.

“It is a robust, ecologically secure, compostable material created specifically to act and sound the same as PVC-derived vinyl,” Evolution Music CEO Marc Carey told Dezeen.

Find out more about the 12-inch vinyl ›

bFriends desk accessories by Pearson Lloyd for Bene

Hoping to give waste bioplastics a new life, this collection of desk accessories by office brand Bene is made from discarded polylactic acid (PLA) food packaging. The collection’s pen pots, trays and phone stands were designed by London studio Pearson Lloyd and 3D-printed by additive manufacturing studio Batch.Works.

According to Batch.Works, the production process produces close to net-zero emissions and once the products are no longer needed, they can be recycled or reclaimed by Bene under a take-back scheme.

Find out more about bFriends ›

Chitofoam cup by Doppelgänger made from mealworm exoskeleton next to a polystyrene cup

Alternative polystyrene packaging by Doppelgänger

Design studio Doppelgänger has developed an alternative to polystyrene foam made from chitin – a biopolymer that is sourced from the exoskeleton of mealworms – a turned it into cups, foam peanuts and other packaging.

The material breaks down in soil in a matter of weeks, according to the studio, while offering shock-absorbent and water-resistant qualities that rival its petroleum-based counterpart.

Find out more about the polystyrene substitute ›

White bioplastic room divider — Photo is by Adam Sakovy

BreaZea room divider by Crafting Plastics and Office MMK

BreaZea is a 3D-printed room divider made from a scent-infused bioplastic. It was created by design studios Crafting Plastics and Office MMK, who presented the object at Salone del Mobile in 2021.

The room divider uses one of Crafting Plastics’ Nuatan bioplastics, which are made from a blend of PLA and PHA polyester. BreaZea has a natural scent reminiscent of bread and maize, in an attempt to mimic the way that fresh wood can add a pleasant aroma to an interior.

Find out more about BreaZea ›

Algae sequin dress by Phillip Lim and Charlotte McCurdy

In 2021, fashion designer Philip Lim and industrial designer Charlotte McCurdy teamed up to develop a petroleum-free dress covered in bioplastic sequins.

McCurdy created the sequins by binding algae together using heat and placing it in a custom mould to cure and solidify. The bioplastic was cast into sheets and then cut out into tusk-shaped sequins, which were used to cover an A-line dress designed by Lim.

Find out more about the algae sequins ›

Bioplastic Skin by Valdis Stainarsdottir from sustainable materials roundup

Bioplastic Skin by Valdís Steinarsdóttir

Bioplastic Skin is a food packaging made from boiled animal hides that was designed to dissolve in hot water and biodegrade in a matter of weeks.

The project was developed by Icelandic designer Valdís Steinarsdóttir, who wanted to find new ways of reusing the waste produced by slaughterhouses. As part of the same project, the designer also created Just Bones – a sturdier material made from ground animal bones, which she turned into a series of vases.

Find out more about Just Bones ›

Reference

cliffside resort's white caves and arches frame the views of chinese south coast

Architecture

resort’s caves and arches frame the views of chinese south coast

By Zarkon Group,13/04/2023

Miyue · Blue & White Cliffside Resort by GS Design

GS Design realizes the ‘Miyue · Blue & White Cliffside Resort‘ on the south coast of China, redefining the concept of ‘elegant vacation’ and focusing on ‘spatial experience’. Located amidst mountainous views in Shenzhen, the hotel incorporates a predominantly white color palette throughout, creating an aesthetic clarity that complements the expanses of blue sea and sky surrounding the structure. The architectural practice composes a series of elegantly minimalist spaces in a warm, uncluttered style, and with subtle materials that reflect the natural environment. The accommodation unit arranges 25 rooms with a unique interior design and character. The core element of each room is the formation of various caves, baths, and arches which provide framed views of the landscape.

all images by GS Design

a sensory experience of urban vacation

Architectural practice GS Design focuses on the ‘spatial experience’ of the composed resort exploring the architectural potential in color, light, and texture forming a ‘pioneering model of urban vacation’. Redefining the term ‘elegant vacation’, the design integrates the building with the surrounding environment ‘unlocking the relationship between physical space and perceptual experience behavior’. The material selection of the public zones applies natural bamboo and wood allowing the natural landscape to become part of the interior. Pure white sets as the main tone of the entire building contrasting the framed blue sea and sky.

The rugged cave baths ensure direct contact with the outdoor area securing privacy and transparency. The terrace bubble pool reflects the ever-changing shadowplay during the day. Through the visual, tactile, and auditory sensory experience and the design team’s constant and progressive exploration to connect daily life and leisure, the hotel shapes a contemporary urban vacation retreat.

the hotel incorporates a predominantly white color palette throughout the structure

formed arches provide framed views of the landscape

each room enjoys unique outlooks of the mountainous scenery

white hues and subtle materials complement the framed expanses of blue sea and sky

Reference

How are these architecture firms ranked?

20. ROMO Arquitectos

19. BENAVIDES & WATMOUGH arquitectos

18. DA-LAB ARQUITECTOS

17. Atelier Lima

16. Barclay and Crousse Architecture

15. Cheng Franco Arquitectos

14. Reusche Reyna Atelier

13. LLOSA CORTEGANA ARQUITECTOS

12. Jaime Ortiz de Zevallos

11. POGGIONE + BIONDI ARQUITECTOS

10. Artadi Arquitectos

9. NIKOLAS BRICEÑO arquitecto

8. Nómena

7. Semillas

6. Juan Carlos Doblado

5. Marina Vella Arquitecta

4. Gonzalez Moix Arquitectura

3. riofrio arquitectos

2. Longhi Architects

1. Martin Dulanto Arquitecto

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

A Guide to Project Awards

Miyue · Blue & White Cliffside Resort by GS Design

a sensory experience of urban vacation

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