Lotteries promise much but few people ever win. Germany’s governing coalition had been planning to unveil a new conscription law this week that would have reintroduced military service by lottery. But the deal collapsed, following objections from defence minister Boris Pistorius. So it’s back to the drawing board for chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has previously pledged to allocate the necessary financial resources to turn Germany’s military into the strongest force in Europe. 
 
Germany ended mandatory conscription in 2011 but the war in Ukraine has prodded Europe’s largest economy to refocus on defence. Much has been done on the investment side. Former chancellor Olaf Scholz’s famed Zeitenwende speech after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was backed by hundreds of billions of euros in military spending from Merz’s new government this year. But so far, the Bundeswehr has struggled to provide a key ingredient: manpower. The goal is to recruit an extra 260,000 soldiers by the early 2030s and the lottery was portrayed as an egalitarian approach to making up the difference.
 
This whole conscription debate, led by Merz and his Christian Democratic Union party, distracts from what the country really needs: a willing, professional army. Germany would do well to lure more people into the military of their own accord and to make a career in service appealing to the public. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of the US Army in Europe, recently suggested to Monocle that defence-related education modules in schools and universities would help.

Those who oppose the German lottery-based system want to try the voluntary route first but incentives will be needed. In 2024, 59 per cent of Germans aged 18 to 29 rejected the idea of fighting for their country in a poll by Stern. Encouraging 18-year-olds to serve is one thing but forcing those who respond in the negative to join anyway is quite another.

Berlin’s professional military is dangerously behind the curve and recent Russian drone incursions have laid this bare. An investigation by German public-media outlets found that the Bundeswehr is unprepared to respond to the uptick in drones and other forms of Russian hybrid warfare. Perhaps it should consider modernising its technology to defend Europe’s airspace before filling its infantry division with battalions of begrudging soldiers. A lottery legion is less a fearsome unit and more a sorry syndicate. 

Conscription can be an effective last resort. For some nations, such as Finland, conscription was never abolished and, as a result, it is embedded positively in its culture. Lithuania and Latvia reintroduced military service in response to the threat from Russia. And Denmark is leading the way with a lottery system that applies equally to men and women. Such moves make sense for countries with smaller populations. Still, UK defence experts warn that returning to conscription would undermine the army’s effectiveness. Germany is big enough that it shouldn’t have to resort to conscripting unlucky losers. But its incentives must soon match its investments. 

Christopher Cermak is Monocle Radio’s senior news editor. Further reading? Monocle’s security correspondent ponders Europe’s draft debate: Should the continent reintroduce conscription? And how are nations trying to recruit Gen Z?

When Monocle’s November issue hits newsstands next week, you’ll be able to flip to the back of the magazine to hear the stories – and marvel at the oeuvre – of seven extraordinary painters. The thing that unites those artists? They are all in their eighties and nineties but continue to stage large exhibitions, sell works for major sums and innovate within their craft. 

If you’re at Frieze London this week, you have the opportunity to see the work of one of those artists in person: Rose Wylie’s painting “Lotte” (2025) features at David Zwirner (booth D15). The brightly coloured painting depicting football player Lotte Wubben-Moy is typical of Wylie’s exuberant style and well worth a look. 

Read on for Monocle’s profile of the sprightly Wylie and a behind-the-scenes look at her famous (and famously messy) studio in Kent. Stay tuned next week to read the full feature.

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When a particularly big globule of paint falls off Rose Wylie’s brush, she’ll simply cover it with a sheet of newspaper to stop it getting on her shoes. “I’m not a precious worker,” she says as we stand in her studio. A soft layer of newspaper carpets the floor, paintbrushes stick out of cans stacked on chairs and colourful splatters obscure the skirting board. Wylie’s unruly garden has crept up the side of the house and into this first-floor room – a jasmine plant pushes through a window in one corner. “Mostly you’re criticised if you don’t tidy up,” she says. “But if you get through a certain threshold, it becomes iconic.”

Wylie’s artistic training went unused for years while she raised her family but, since returning to painting in her forties, she has become a critical and commercial darling of the art world. She is currently working on a painting that features a large, “nonchalant” skeleton. It will appear in her upcoming exhibition at London’s Royal Academy in early 2026, her biggest show to date.

Wylie’s bold canvases often combine text and figures from history, mythology or contemporary pop culture. And while Wylie’s process can be messy, she is exacting about her practice, regularly working late into the night wrestling with a painting. “Often it’s horrible, slimy, trite, pedestrian,” she says. “There are 100 things that can go wrong, particularly with faces, and then, for some odd reason, suddenly it’s alright.”

Finland’s icebreaker agreement with the US appears at first glance to be a deal in which both sides win. The Nordic country receives $6bn (€5.19bn) of investment in its sluggish economy while the Americans gain fast access to 11 state-of-the-art icebreakers. But beneath the smiles and handshakes, there is a quiet gamble taking place – one in which Finland stands to lose most. There is no doubt that the agreement is transformative for Helsinki. The US Coast Guard will draw on Finnish design and expertise for a new fleet of Arctic security cutters, securing years of work for an industry that has long been a point of national pride. Finland is the world’s undisputed leader in icebreaker design: about 80 per cent of the world’s ice-capable vessels were designed by Finnish engineers and more than half were built in the country’s shipyards. The US, meanwhile, has fallen behind in polar capabilities: its Coast Guard operates only a handful of ageing ships, while Russia commands a fleet of dozens. For Washington, Helsinki’s technical leadership offers a way to catch up quickly. 

US law classifies icebreakers as military vessels, which means they must, in principle, be built domestically. The memorandum signed this week surpasses this by framing the Finnish component as a partnership, rather than an outsourcing. But legal ambiguity remains. Any shift in political mood or administration on Capitol Hill could force a reinterpretation of the rules, which would leave Finnish yards exposed to unfinished ships and cancelled contracts. The Trump administration’s foreign policy is anything but predictable and it has been made clear that allies can easily become foes. For a small country like Finland whose industrial base is tightly integrated with global markets, that risk is not theoretical. Washington, meanwhile, stands to gain almost risk-free. By leaning on Finnish expertise, the US sidesteps its own shipbuilding shortcomings without having to overhaul them. The collaboration offers a way to project readiness in the Arctic – an increasingly important geopolitical theatre – without confronting domestic inefficiency.

Adding to the complexity is the role of Canada’s Davie Shipbuilding, which recently acquired the Helsinki Shipyard, Finland’s largest icebreaker maker. On paper, this broadens the deal’s reach across Nato lines, giving the alliance a combined industrial footprint. In practice, it opens the possibility of transferring Finnish know-how across the Atlantic. Indeed, the memorandum signed by presidents Donald Trump and Alexander Stubb stipulates as much. For all the talk of shared innovation, industrial partnerships tend to migrate towards the largest buyer. 

There is, however, a less-noted strategic dividend for Finland. By embedding US capital and capability in its shipyards, Washington is also welding itself to its partner’s stability. If something were to threaten Finnish industrial or territorial security, it would also threaten an American project. In a region where Russia remains a constant factor, that implicit guarantee carries real weight. For Helsinki, that’s a subtle but important victory. Small states don’t survive by isolating themselves. By offering something Washington needs – and by embedding that need in steel and infrastructure – Finland ensures that its security concerns are now also those of the US. It’s a modern version of alliance-building that is done through production lines rather than pledges. The risk, of course, is that this kind of interdependence can cut both ways. None of this diminishes the technical triumph that Finland’s shipbuilders represent. Their knowledge is the result of geography and persistence. Every winter, the country’s frozen ports must be kept open. Over generations, engineers, scientists and mariners have turned those icebound months into laboratories of innovation. That quiet mastery is now Helsinki’s diplomatic currency. It allows the country to engage with great powers on something approaching equal terms; the test now is to turn expertise into influence.

Watch next: Icebreakers at work – Monocle Film hops on board

Read next: Inside Le Command Charcot, the world’s first luxury icebreaker cruise

Why the Monocle Design Directory? And why now? To answer these questions, we need to rewind to the launch of Monocle in 2007. Since our first issue, politics, business, fashion and culture have been filtered through the lens of design. Diplomatic residences have been scrutinised, national economies assessed in terms of their industrial-design output and social cohesion in cities measured in terms of newly built galleries, museums and institutions. It’s an approach to journalism that recognises that the work of architects, graphic designers, furniture makers and design brands is far-reaching – beyond simply making beautiful things, these creatives have the power to shape our lives and build communities. It’s what drew me to Monocle in 2010 as a designer on the lookout for benchmark projects and then – after a slight career pivot – as a design journalist in 2018. And it’s why we’re pressing play on our first stand-alone magazine dedicated solely to design.

The world today needs good design and architecture more than ever. Across our pages, you’ll find homes with substance, businesses with heft and some gorgeous products too. For example, one can look at the reporting of this publication’s deputy editor, Grace Charlton, who took a tour through the Balkans, visiting Cold War-era memorials. Originally built to recognise conflict and postwar development, these monuments tell a story that is as much about reconciling the past and the present as it is about recognising striking architecture. The report might just inspire your next roadtrip.

Complementing this is a story from Edmund and Yuki Sumner, a photographer-and-journalist super team, who examined how contemporary Mexican architects are building inspiring homes. Meanwhile, our editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, paid a visit to the father-and-son duo behind Fenix Originals. This Barcelona-based outfit is drawing attention to forgotten mid-century Spanish designers through the restoration of vintage furniture. It’s a cause that tugs at the heartstrings and provides buyers with unique furniture with which to kit out their homes and offices.

Naturally, some broader themes have emerged.

Immersing ourselves in design communities in Tokyo, Paris and São Paulo, we report on how traditional craftsmanship lays the foundations for innovation. In our visits to projects across the globe – from Bidadari Park in Singapore to a repurposed flyover space in Surat, India – we examine how design can help to build communities. These stories will hopefully inspire you to use design to improve your life and wellbeing, while delivering on our promise to spotlight uplifting projects and beautiful wares for your home.

Need an architect in Athens or collectable furniture in Copenhagen? Our new Design Directory connects you with vetted creatives on every continent. From emerging studios to market leaders, skilled craftspeople to cutting-edge brands, this guide delivers contacts for transforming any space – an address book for navigating the world of design.

Amsterdam

The Dutch capital plays host to some of design’s brightest minds, from the Amsterdam School’s community-minded architecture to its savvy housing scheme.

Inside Outside
The name says it all: this design studio specialises in both landscape and interior design.
Schakelstraat 4, Amsterdam
+31 20 681 0801, insideoutside.nl

UNStudio
Architecture practice renowned for large-scale infrastructure projects imbued with a sculptural sensibility.
Stadhouderskade 113, Amsterdam
+31 20 570 2040, unstudio.com

Nicemakers
Looking for cinematic interiors? This is the studio to turn to.
Stadhouderskade 160, Amsterdam
+31 20 354 7228, nicemakers.com

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Antwerp

Belgium’s diamond capital layers cutting-edge contemporary structures on art nouveau mansions. Meanwhile, the city’s famed fashion academy plays an outsized role in shaping its creative scene.

Studio Helder
Buy outstanding collectable pieces ranging from furniture to jewellery or turn to the studio of this multifaceted business for advice on design.
Provinciestraat 100, Antwerp
+32 3 289 43 18, studiohelder.be

Espoo
Searching for a piece of Scandinavia in Belgium? Drop by this shop that stocks the best in Nordic furniture and homeware.
Kloosterstraat 75-77, Antwerp
+32 3 237 57 97, espoo.be

Going East
Interiors practice specialising in design-build, ensuring that projects are delivered accurately and impeccably.
Ridder van Parijsstraat 18, Antwerp
+32 3 226 81 59, goingeast.be

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Athens

Ancient craft traditions meet a contemporary design renaissance in the Greek capital, with marble and ceramic workshops influencing modern furniture makers.

Hyper Hypo
Colourful bookshop selling the best print titles. It’s also an informal community hub for the city’s creative scene.
Voreou 10, Athens
+30 21 1735 9628, hyperhypo.gr

Antiqua
Gallery established in 1954 that specialises in 20th-century design masterpieces – drop by for the best collection in Athens.
Irodotou 7, Athens
+30 21 0323 2220, antiqua.gr

Point Supreme
Masters of blending simple geometries with complex colour palettes, this architecture studio is the go-to for inspiring Mediterranean interiors.
Genneou Kolokotroni 68B, Athens
pointsupreme.com

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Barcelona

Gaudí’s fairy-tale modernisme might be Barcelona’s calling card but the Catalonian city has never coasted on past glories, with a host of contemporary firms creating illuminating architecture, furniture and objects.

Isern Serra
Versatile design studio creating beautiful objects with a focus on materiality and craftsmanship.
Carrer Llull 47-49, Barcelona
+34 650 293 485, isernserra.com

Santa & Cole
One of Catalonia’s leading lights, this design firm adds atmosphere and character to any space.
Carretera, C-251 Km 5,6, Parc de Belloch, Barcelona
+34 938 619 100, santacole.com

Mesura
Studio creating beautiful architecture with a deep understanding that aesthetics is linked to durability and sustainability.
Carrer de Gomis 34, Barcelona
+34 934 672 190, mesura.eu

Marset
Family-run firm continuing to produce innovative, cutting-edge lighting designs.
Carretera de Rubí 284, Barcelona
+34 934 602 067, marset.com

Sandra Tarruella Interioristas
Looking for a timeless, atmospheric interior? Turn to these experts who specialise in restaurants, hotels and commercial spaces.
Madrazo 83, Barcelona
+34 933 622 264, tarruellainterioristas.com

BD Barcelona
Design pioneers since 1972, this newly revived firm brings to life iconic furniture pieces by Gaudí, Dalí and contemporary masters.
C/Ramon Turró 126, Barcelona
+34 934 570 052, bdbarcelona.com

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Basel

Despite the city’s compact size, celebrated international designers including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Tadao Ando have worked in Basel. Swiss engineering prowess is also evident in the precision of the construction of its skyline.

Tiny Küche
Looking for a space-saving mini kitchen? Turn to this company for interior and exterior fit-outs.
St. Alban-Vorstadt 15, Basel
+41 61 272 18 18, tinykueche.ch

Christ & Gantenbein
Architecture firm that has delivered significant infrastructure and cultural landmarks with efficient design concepts.
Spitalstrasse 12, Basel
+41 61 260 90 20, christgantenbein.com

Glassworks Matteo Gonet
Bespoke glassworker that specialises in everything from large-scale sculptural works to made-to-order chandeliers.
Tramstrasse 66, Münchenstein
+41614114121, matteogonet.allyou.net

Vitra
Firm dedicated to improving homes, offices and public spaces through quality furniture design.
Charles-Eames-Strasse 2, Weil am Rhein
+49 76 21 702 32 40, vitra.com

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Berlin

The German capital’s architectural layers tell stories of kingdoms, republics, division and reunification. It’s a mix that attracts creatives of all stripes – from architects and designers to musicians and couturiers.

DOM Publishers
Print specialists producing high-quality design-minded publications.
Caroline-von-Humboldt-Weg 20, Berlin
+49 30 206 96930, dom-publishers.com

Hacking Gutenberg
Workshop redefining the letterpress in the 21st century through research, printing and experimentation.
Potsdamer Strasse 98A, Berlin
+49 30 832 19070, hackinggutenberg.berlin

Holder
Editorial platform, retailer and gallerist showcasing contemporary and collectable design from Latin America.
Rosenheimer Strasse 7, Berlin
+49 152 078 77192, holder-objects.com

Süper Store
Curated design shop specialising in glass, ceramics, jewellery and objects from Japan.
Prinzenstrasse 85C, Berlin
sueper-store.de

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Copenhagen

Far from resting on the laurels of its mid-century designers, Copenhagen continues to export outstanding creative talent worldwide, thanks in no small part to its respected design schools.

NormArchitects
Design studio that creates architecture, interiors and products with a focus on minimalist forms and calming spaces.
Amaliegade 21D, Copenhagen
+45 28 87 93 09, normcph.com

SLA
Studio with a focus on landscape architecture, with projects that range from nature-inspired spaces and drawing up city master plans to biodiversity strategies.
Njalsgade 17B, Pakhus 2, Copenhagen
+45 33 91 13 16, sla.dk

Tom Rossau
Independent lighting designer with a shop-front workshop and studio where distinctive sculptural pendant lights and lamps are created.
Frederiksberg Allé 5,Copenhagen
+45 71 94 00 00, tomrossau.com

AtelierAxo
Cross-disciplinary studio specialising in small-scale architecture, interior design and bespoke furniture.
Bredgade 66, Copenhagen
+45 40 88 63 38, atelier-axo.com

Moebe
Danish furniture brand doing more with less, producing furniture and objects reduced to their simplest, most efficient forms.
Strandlodsvej 42a, Copenhagen
+45 71 74 74 96, moebe.dk

Fritz Hansen
Established in 1872, this storied international design house continues to create world-class furniture, lighting and homeware.
Valkendorfsgade4, Copenhagen
+45 39 20 20 31, fritzhansen.com

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Geneva

A lakeside city where French and German architectural traditions merge with Italian influences, Geneva also has a watchmaking heritage that brings mechanical flair to the city’s creative scene.

Lacroix Chessex
Architecture studio specialising in residential, educational and public buildings, often defined by impressive geometric forms.
Ruedes Cordiers 4, Geneva
+41 22 300 54 07, lacroixchessex.ch

Les Illuminés Design XXème
Gallery specialising in 20th-century design classics from masters such as Le Corbusier, Charles and Ray Eames and Poul Kjaerholm.
Rue Vignier 3, Geneva
+4179 725 33 75, lesilluminesdesign.ch

Bonhôte Zapata
Architecture firm with a masterful grasp of light and natural materiality, working on everything from civic to residential projects.
Rue du Levant 3, Geneva
+41 22 786 37 83, bonhotezapata.ch

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Helsinki

Finnish design’s reputation was built on the backs of companies such as Iittala and Artek, which embraced the country’s glassmaking and timber heritage – a trend that continues to evolve today.

Studio Joanna Laajisto
Functionality, quality and beauty converge in this interior studio’s work across retail, hospitality and commercial spaces.
Kalevankatu 18 B, Helsinki
+358 44 214 5937, joannalaajisto.com

Vaarni
Pine is the material of choice for this firm that creates brutal yet sleek objects in partnership with Finnish craftspeople and factories.
Sorvaajankatu 15, Helsinki
+358 10 319 9670, vaarnii.com

Hakola
Colourful family-run firm creating responsibly-made, joy-inducing furniture.
Annankatu 5, Helsinki
+358 50 358 2739, hakola.fi

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Istanbul

Radical design has flourished on the Bosphorus for centuries, creating a patchwork where 1950s international style sits alongside 16th-century mosques. Its craft scene, defined by carpet weaving and kilim making, adds texture to interiors and the fabric of the city.

Autoban
Architecture studio delivering sensitively conceived projects, ranging from underground transport terminals and vast airports to tropical resorts.
Dibek Sokak No 48 Galata, Istanbul
+90 212 243 8641, autoban.com

Sanayi313
Design, furniture, art and food come together at this lifestyle brand’s industrial workshop.
10 Sokak No 313 Maslak, Istanbul
+90 212 286 3857, sanayi313.com

Uniqka
Design brand reviving handcrafted leather traditions in partnership with contemporary designers.
Aktarlar Sokak No 27/A Besiktas, Istanbul
+90 532 427 1383, uniqka.com

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Lisbon

Portugal has a rich design heritage defined by a deep appreciation for craft and a recent influx of expats in the capital is enlivening the city’s artistic milieu.

Corticeira Amorim
Leading cork producer that is transforming the natural material into innovative architectural products and design solutions.
Rua de Meladas 380, Mozelos
+351 22 747 5400, amorim.com

Garcé Dimofski
Design studio known for interiors and furniture with a pared-back look that maintains a sculptural quality.
Rua dos Anjos 16, Lisbon
garce-dimofski.com

P-06
Storytelling is at the core of this studio specialising in environmental graphic design, from wayfinding to place branding.
Praça Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 28A, Paço de Arcos
+351 21 446 7367, p06.studio

Monade
Publishing house with a focus on research books and monographs on architecture, photography and art.
Rua Rodrigues Sampaio, 19 5B, Lisbon
+351 96 654 7982, monadebooks.com

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London

The UK capital continues to attract global talent thanks to its world-class educational facilities and the diversity of its creative communities. The result is innovation in fashion, graphics, architecture and furniture.

Michael Anastassiades
Cypriot-born designer known for cinematic ambient lighting and high-quality objects.
50 Rochester Place, London
+44 20 7928 7527, michaelanastassiades.com

Industrial Facility
Beauty and utility seamlessly combine in this studio’s furniture- and product-design output.
20 Britton Street, London
+44 20 7253 3234, industrialfacility.co.uk

Studio Frith
This design studio is an expert in using colour and typography to create inspiring branding and graphic work.
18 Club Row, London
studiofrith.com

Goldfinger
Community-minded organisation that designs everything from bespoke furniture pieces to outreach programmes aimed at training the next generation of craftspeople.
66A Turnmill Street, London
goldfinger.design

Modular By Mensah
Furniture-design studio that promotes social connection and community through its work.
Unit 221B, Peckham Levels, Moncrieff Street, London
modularbymensah.com

William Smalley
Architecture studio creating spaces informed by a deep understanding of context and memory, as well as material and craft.
13 Great James Street, London
+44 20 7242 0028, williamsmalley.com

SCP
Leading furniture retailer of contemporary and iconic interior pieces that also commissions and produces new British design.
135-139 Curtain Road, London
+44 20 7739 1869, scp.co.uk

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Madrid

Grand boulevards and ornate fountains sit alongside village-like plazas and narrow streets in this city of contrasts. This varied inspiration shapes the work of its creatives.

Langarita-Navarro
Architecture studio blurring boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, public and private spheres, as well as nature and the manmade.
Grijalba 8, Madrid
+34 915 645 984, langarita-navarro.com

Office for Political Innovation
Multidisciplinary agency dedicated to architecture and exhibitions, operating at the intersection of design, research and environmental activism.
Calle Arriaza, 6, Madrid
+34 910 572 163, officeforpoliticalinnovation.com

Penadés
Research-driven studio developing new materials and objects while curating architectural experiences.
Rondade Toledo 16, Local 304, Madrid
+34915524270, penades.xyz

Espacio Brut
Design outpost for 20th- and 21st-century objects, art, books and collectable design.
Calle Pelayo 68, Madrid
+34 910 258 963, espaciobrut.com

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Milan

Home to the famed Salone del Mobile, Milan continues to have far-reaching influence on global design trends and industries. Against this business backdrop is a city of impressively varied architecture, spanning from the gothic spires of the Duomo to Liberty decoration and Gio Ponti’s modernism.

ACPV Architects
Architecture studio delivering city-defining projects, from high-rise towers to urban plazas, grand hotels and commercial headquarters.
Via Cerva, 4, Milan
+39 02 763 8801, acpvarchitects.com

Vero International
Next-generation furniture and homeware brand using Italian know-how to produce simple and elegant wares.
verointernational.com

6:AM Glassworks
Studio that is redefining Italy’s glassmaking heritage by combining traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics.
Via Privata Felice Romani 2, Milan
+39 02 8410 6869, 6am.glass

Formafantasma
Leading design studio working across architecture, branding, product and exhibition design, with an approach defined by a deep respect for cultural, social and environmental context.
Via Privata Assab 1, Milan
formafantasma.com

Objects Are By
Homeware brand connecting creatives and artisans in the production of unique, environmentally low-impact pieces.
objectsareby.com

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Munich

From Olympiapark’s landscape-embedded stadiums to corporate headquarters, function precedes aesthetics in the Bavarian capital. The result? Practical industrial design and smart, contemporary architecture.

Holzrausch
An interior-design studio with production facilities for the creation of bespoke furniture and architecture.
Blumenstrasse17, Munich
+49 89 1893 2880, holzrausch.de

Bureau Borsche
Graphic-design studio specialising in editorial design, creating distinct visual identities and typographic work.
Paul-Heyse-Strasse17, Munich
+49 89 6214 6672, bureauborsche.com

J*Gast
Innovative brand challenging notions of what traditional unit kitchens can be through the use of modular, customisable solutions.
Blumenstrasse 17, Munich
+49 89 8776 5575, jgast.com

Occhio
Systems-based lighting brand that manufactures its own luminaries and fixtures.
Wiener Platz 7, Munich
+49 89 4477 8630, occhio.com

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Oslo

Sustainable timber construction and landscape-integrated buildings reflect the Nordics’ love for nature. It’s an outlook embraced by Oslo’s leading furniture makers.

Shapes by Hydro
The research and furniture-production arm of aluminium specialists Norsk Hydro.
Drammensveien 264, Oslo
+47 22 53 81 00, shapesbyhydro.com

Fjord Arkitekter
Architecture firm delivering structures with a respect for local ecologies, economies and cultures.
Bjerregaardsgate 1A, Oslo
+47 40 41 61 61, fjordarkitekter.no

Edvin Klasson
Independent designer creating objects and furniture, radically combining materials and forms.
+47 97 14 66 39, edvinklasson.com

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Paris

An appreciation for beauty and craft shapes Paris’s outlook on design, whether in the work of haute-couture ateliers or the magnificent rooftops lining Haussmannian boulevards.

Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier
Renowned interior designer producing elegant furniture collections with high-quality French craftsmanship.
4 Passage Sainte-Avoye, Paris
+33 1 84 74 77 90, pierreyovanovitch.com

Yorgo & Co
Creative studio specialising in savvy solutions across branding, interiors and product development projects.
51 Rue des Vinaigriers, Paris
+33 1 40 38 81 85, yorgo.co

Garnier & Linker
Lighting, furniture and object design studio producing work for a range of environments, from residences to hotels and galleries.
22 Rue de l’Echiquier, Paris
+33 6 73 51 76 18, garnieretlinker.com

The Invisible Collection
Curators of exceptional contemporary furniture and decorative objects, sourced from a global cohort of designers and artisans.
20 Rue Amélie, Paris
+33 1 84 88 04 66, theinvisiblecollection.com

Festen Architecture
Makers of elegant interiors defined by rich textures and robust materials.
14 Rue Commines, Paris
+33 9 86 41 30 26, festenarchitecture.com

Kann Design
French-Lebanese studio designing, manufacturing and kitting out interiors with bespoke furniture and architectural solutions.
30 Rue des Trois Bornes, Paris
+33 9 62 54 42 03, kanndesign.com

Tiptoe
Savvy design meets sleek industrial machining to produce smart seating, tables and homeware.
49 Rue Étienne Marcel, Paris
+33 1 80 50 05 13, tiptoe.fr

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Prague

A post-communism creative renaissance saw a design boom in the Czech capital, where Bohemian glass traditions and heritage woodworking and ceramic practices have been adapted to suit modern needs.

Chybik + Kristof
This Czech-founded global office carries out projects with strong cultural and community ambitions.
Vodickova 736/17, Prague
+420 775 727 488, chybik-kristof.com

Camp
The Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning (Camp) is a hub for discussion, encouraging discourse on the development and construction of Czech cities.
Vyšehradská 51, Prague
+420 770 141 547, praha.camp

Master & Master
Czech-made furniture marrying functionality and playfulness across a range that spans from sofas to magazine holders.
Na Zátorách 7, Prague
+420 725 258 289, masterandmaster.eu

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Rome

The Italian capital has a long history: Roman ruins and Renaissance churches join baroque basilicas. But new constructions in the city prove that its design know-how extends far beyond its ancient foundations.

Rhinoceros
Seventeenth-century palazzo combining hospitality with exhibition spaces showcasing work by contemporary creatives and deep dives into design history.
Via delVelabro 9, Rome
+39 6 679 7434, rhinocerosroma.com

Secondome
Design gallery championing Italian designers and promoting handcrafted contemporary objects.
Via Portuense 201, Rome
+39 34 7634 4053, secondome.biz

Giustini / Stagetti
On the lookout for 20th-century Italian design? This gallery stocks a variety of pieces from design masters.
Via Gregoriana 41, Rome
+39 06 8765 2093, giustinistagetti.com

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Rotterdam

The Dutch city owes its reputation to the post-Second World War construction boom in which the city became an architectural playground filled with bold, experimental design.

Studio Sabine Marcelis
Few designers are shaping the contemporary design landscape quite like Sabine Marcelis. The Dutch designer has collaborated with the likes of Ikea, Hem and Cc-Tapis.
Vlaardingweg 28, Rotterdam
+31 6 3421 0798, sabinemarcelis.com

Cloud
Multidisciplinary practice working across architecture, interiors and product design, delivering work defined by a masterful command of sculptural forms.
Delftseplein 36, Rotterdam
+31 6 8627 9603, cloud-ism.com

MVRDV
Global architecture firm working on projects that function as “city doctors” connecting people with each other and the environment.
Achterklooster7,Rotterdam
+31 1 0477 2860, mvrdv.com

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Stockholm

Thriving creative neighbourhoods are scattered across the Swedish capital, defined by rusty townhouses, sky-splitting spires, baroque palaces and Nordic classicism.

Note Design Studio
Interiors and architecture studio redefining the contemporary Nordic aesthetic through the use of playful forms and colour combined with natural light and materials.
Nytorgsgatan 23, Stockholm
+46 8 656 88 04, notedesignstudio.se

Massproductions
Contemporary furniture company building on the clean, functional elegance of modernism.
Katarinavägen 11C, Stockholm
+46 8 789 03 90, massproductions.se

Hem
Independent design brand delivering imaginative, functional contemporary furniture of exceptional quality.
Torsgatan 16, Stockholm
+46 8 408 067 40, hem.com

Jacksons
Gallery specialising in 20th-century Scandinavian design, with a focus on Swedish classics.
Sibyllegatan 53, Stockholm
+46 70 545 40 49, jacksons.se

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Venice

A global standout in terms of urban design and architecture, the city is also home to the Venice Biennale’s famed International Architecture Exhibition, while its glassmaking scene on the island of Murano continues to inspire.

Nason Moretti
Family-run Murano glassworks creating distinctive pieces finished in a range of hues and textures.
Calle Dietro Gli Orti 12, Venice
+39 041 739 020, nasonmoretti.com

Bruno
Graphic-design studio, exhibition space, specialist bookshop and publishing house focusing on visual communication.
Dorsoduro 2729, Venice
+39 041 523 0379, b-r-u-n-o.it

Laguna B
Firm creating contemporary Murano glassware, reinterpreting traditional goti de fornasa into collectable pieces.
Dorsoduro 3276, Venice
+39 041 098 6405, lagunab.com

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Vienna

The legacy of the city’s golden age at the turn of the 20th century laid the foundations for the Austrian capital to remain full of vibrant creativity.

Eoos
Product and furniture studio designing for global brands, while also working on humanitarian projects for disadvantaged communities.
Zelinkagasse 2/6, Vienna
+43 1 4053987, eoos.com

Studio Es
Graphics and branding studio specialising in print and visual identity design.
Siebenbrunnengasse 21/5, Vienna
+43 664 8498717, studio-es.at

Jarosinski & Vaugoin
Celebrated silversmith creating pieces that range from cutlery to ornamental urns.
Zieglergasse 24, Vienna
+43 1 5233388, vaugoin.com

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Warsaw

A hub of Eastern European talent, Warsaw’s modernist architectural heritage, informed by postwar reconstruction, continues to influence its contemporary design.

366 Concept
Brand specialising in reissuing classic mid-century Polish furniture using environmentally minded production methods.
Nowogrodzka 10/Apt 2, Warsaw
+48 57 760 73 66, eu.366concept.com

Tylko
Furniture label known for its bespoke and readily customisable shelving and storage systems.
Czerska 8/10, Warsaw
tylko.com

Maja Ganszyniec Studio
Design studio with a global roster of clients, creating products rooted in material honesty and refined forms.
Odynca 9/4, Warsaw
studioganszyniec.com

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Zürich

The international typographic style – a graphic movement that prioritised clarity, order and legibility – had a significant influence on Zürich. Today, those effects on its foundational home can still be seen, from architecture to print.

MACH Architektur
Architecture practice creating elegant and robust buildings with a focus on precise details and materials.
Hardturmstrasse 76, Zürich
+41 44 248 36 50, macharch.ch

Lars Müller
Publisher of award-winning books on architecture, design and photography, renowned for its intellectual and aesthetic rigour.
Pfingstweidstrasse 6, Zürich
+41 44 274 37 40, lars-mueller-publishers.com

Charles O Job
Designer known for furniture and product design emphasising simple forms, rich colours and a multicultural sensibility.
Ottikerstrasse 53, Zürich
+41 44 361 14 20, charlesjob.com

Kodai and Associates
Architecture studio blending Japanese, Italian and Swiss influences to create detail-rich, intentional spaces.
Lavaterstrasse 45, Zürich
+41 44 536 39 83, kodaiandassociates.com

Edition VFO
Publishing house behind a wide range of editioned prints and artworks, promoting graphic art to a wider public.
Limmatstrasse 268, Zürich
+41 44 241 53 00, edition-vfo.ch

Milan Rohrer Studio
Industrial-design studio with a specialisation in transport, from autonomous aircraft-towing vehicles to modular fire engines.
AmWasser 55, Zürich
+41 78 677 42 73, milanrohrer.com

Abu Dhabi

Emirati traditions meet ultra-modern aspirations as contemporary designers reimagine the city’s cultural heritage, using everything from traditional Islamic geometries to mashrabiya latticework.

Agata Kurzela Studio
Architecture, interiors and furniture-design studio producing sleek works that play with form, light and shadow.
kurzela.com

Fount
Design-minded concept shop celebrating good design with a world-class selection of objects, books and collectables.
Erth, Khor Al Maqta, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Road, Abu Dhabi
+971 58 540 5698, fountconcept.ae

Slash
Part of the Ripple Collective of Abu Dhabi-based creative businesses, this multidisciplinary studio works across strategy, branding, visual identity and spatial design.
Level 3, Erth, Khor Al Maqta, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Road, Abu Dhabi
+971 2 679 8800, ripplecollective.ae

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Accra

Ghana’s capital embraces both traditional craft and Africa’s best new design. Vibrant textile traditions and local hardwoods, such as mahogany, shape the furniture industry.

Dot Ateliers
Creative residency and hub providing resources for artists and designers to deepen their practice.
254a Third Kaadjano St, Accra
dotateliers.space

Limbo Accra
Spatial-design practice working across public art, design and architectural production to challenge perceptions about the way we use buildings and develop cities.
limboaccra.online

Nav_S Baerbel Mueller
Architecture and design studio specialising in contemporary projects across western Africa.
nav-s.net

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Beirut

At the crossroads of Mediterranean culture with a proud emphasis on Middle Eastern traditions, the Lebanese capital plays host to a design scene that is constantly rebuilding and reinventing itself.

Blatt Chaya
Family-owned tile producer reviving 19th-century artisanal tile-making practices with contemporary patterns.
POBox 5685 663, Al Midane Street, Dekweneh, Beirut
+961 1 695 222, blattchaya.com

Fabraca
Specialists in the design and making of bespoke lighting, this studio combines spatial design with in-house manufacturing expertise.
3rd Floor, Obeid Building, Bauchrieh Industrial City
+961 3 917 501, fabracastudios.com

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Cairo

Five millennia of design heritage converge in Cairo, where specialist schools foster new talent while artisans in workshops across the city adapt ancient techniques for contemporary markets.

Dar Arafa Architecture
Contemporary architecture firm known for residential and commercial projects across the Middle East and North Africa.
New Cairo1, Cairo
+20 10 26000669, dararafa.com

Matter
Colourful brand-design and communications agency working in creative strategy and visual identity.
2ElMalekElAfdal, Zamalek, Cairo
+20 10 33960972, matterbranding.com

Timm Henger
Based in Cairo but with roots in Leipzig, Germany, this visual-communication studio produces striking, contemporary graphic works.
timmhenger.com

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Cape Town

South Africa’s design capital has a creative scene full of manufacturing know-how and resourcefulness that produces architecture and furniture rooted in craft.

Lemon Furniture
Contemporary furniture-design studio creating distinctive pieces for residential and commercial spaces.
24 Waterkant Street, Cape Town
+27 66 035 3183, lemonfurniture.co

Monday Design
Graphic design and branding studio specialising in packaging and visual identity.
160 Sir Lowry Road, Cape Town
+27 82 454 5827, mondaydesign.co.za

James Mudge
Product and furniture designer creating sculptural pieces that blur the lines between art and function.
1 Calcutta Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town
+27 79 448 1683, jamesmudge.com

Anatomy Design
Leading retail outpost for furniture, lighting and homeware, working in close partnership with interiors studio Hesse Kleinloog.
7 HudsonStreet, DeWaterkant, CapeTown
+27 21 300 6071, anatomydesign.co.za

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Dakar

Creativity blossoms in Senegal’s coastal capital, where designers are increasingly looking to work with local and indigenous materials, reducing reliance on imported goods.

Q08 Design Store
Curated design shop, connected to art and design centre Studio Quatorzerohuit, showcasing contemporary African design.
12 Avenue Georges Pompidou, Dakar
+221 78 100 14 08

Aissa Dione Tissus
Traditional and contemporary textile studio specialising in West African fabrics and patterns.
Parcel 104B Sodida, Dakar 1221 33 825 66 60, aissadionetissus.com

Atelier Kalm
Architecture studio focusing on sustainable and culturally responsive design solutions.
Fenêtre Mermoz 118, Immeuble D Mermoz, Dakar
kalm-architecture.com

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Doha

The Qatari capital’s rapid transformation from fishing village to global creative hub is remarkable, with the city home to an international design festival and grand works of architecture by the likes of Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas.

Sameh Elnahas
Graphic-design studio specialising in comestibles, applying striking visual identities to equally eye-catching packaging designs.
+974 3367 4742, samehelnahas.com

Albaker Architects
Architecture firm known for large-scale works, blending contemporary Middle Eastern design with international expertise.
Level 4, Ghanem Business Center, Ramada Signal, Doha
+974 4442 3963, albakerarchitects.com

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Dubai

The UAE’s creative centre is a dynamic city where global starchitects inspire a new generation of design talent and regional manufacturing expertise is combined with an international outlook.

Mula Studio
Award-winning design studio creating architecture, interiors and installations inspired by the Emirati climate and traditional building methods.
5b 15A Street, Al Quoz, Dubai
mula.ae

Modu
Furniture and homeware brandslash-design consultancy focusing on furnishing spaces and cultivating distinct interior atmospheres.
+971 58 525 6638, modumethod.com

Waiwai
Research-based design studio creating innovative architecture, interior, product and material solutions.
Office 906, Emirates NBD Gold Building, Al Sabkha, Dubai
+971 4 298 5663, waiwaidesign.com

The Line Concept
Contemporary Emirati furniture brand with a Dubai facility producing handcrafted wares from solid wood, marble and metal.
Al Quoz Industrial, Dubai
+971 52 620 1160, thelineconcept.com

Studio Dua Abukhalaf
Interior-design studio known for elegant, light-filled residential and hospitality projects.
duaabukhalaf.com

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Lagos

Nigeria’s megacity is home to one of West Africa’s strongest creative scenes. Here, rapid urbanisation and development work hand in hand with innovation.

Nmbello Studio
Award-winning contemporary furniture and product-design practice, specialising in collectable and handcrafted wares.
nmbello.com

Studio Lani
Design studio producing wares inspired by West African maker traditions and forms.
studio-lani.com

Oshinowo Studio
Architecture firm known for innovative contemporary design and research-led projects, spanning high-end residences, major cultural commissions and community-minded housing projects.
5th Floor, CBC Tower, Lagos
+234 201 293 0622, oshinowostudio.com

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Marrakech

Berber, Arabic and French design traditions collide to shape Marrakech’s design scene. Artisans can be found adapting ancient woodcarving and metalworking skills for contemporary furniture markets, while architects embrace traditional building techniques.

Beni
Contemporary rug specialists showcasing Moroccan craftsmanship while also building the capacity of local communities.
benirugs.com

E-H Atelier d’Architectures
Design studio known for its boxy, light-filled, high-end residential work.
Manar Residence, El Bahja No 69, Marrakech
eharchitectes.com

Bouchra Boudoua
Ceramic brand also working from Casablanca, combining ancestral pottery-making techniques with a modern Moroccan aesthetic.
bouchraboudoua.com

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Nairobi

Nairobi’s creatives are resourcefully responding to its rapid development in this East African design hub. Local hardwoods and traditional basketweaving techniques inspire contemporary furniture making.

Cave Bureau
Architecture and research practice exploring the interconnected relationship between architecture, urbanism, nature and culture.
PO Box 50565 00200, Kilimani, Nairobi
+254 793 804 463, cave.co.ke

Studio Mehta Architecture
Contemporary architecture firm creating residential, commercial and cultural projects that blur the lines between interior and exterior.
+254 110 008 397, studiomehta.com

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Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s capital is on track to achieve its goal of becoming a global creative contender. Design schools and an emerging design week are nurturing a new crop of talent.

Lucas Barceló
Design studio creating contemporary furniture and product design, with joyful forms inspired by Middle Eastern cultures.
2568 7118 Muhammad Ibn Rashid Al Uraini, Al Diriyah Al Jadidah, Riyadh 1966 53 241 6754, lucasbarcelo.com

Hobal
Culturally driven product, homeware and furniture brand dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Saudi Arabia.
1966 53 905 5015, hobal.sa

Muntj Studio
Craft-led brand creating meaningful, Saudi-inspired products in the centre of Riyadh.
1966 53 116 1173, muntjstudio.replit.app

Chicago

Birthplace of the skyscraper and some of the world’s finest modernist architects, Chicago remains an architectural leader thanks to firms such as Skidmore Owings & Merrill and Studio Gang.

Converge Architecture
Design firm focused on sustainable design and urban development through community-minded projects.
1100 West Cermak Road, Suite 522, Chicago 11 815 535 1071, convergearchitecture.com

Mobile Makers
Non-profit focused on tech and creative skills development.
1757 North Kimball Avenue, Suite 107, Chicago
+1 773 900 2540, mobilemakers.org

Norman Teague Design Studio
Light forms, clean lines, honest materials and a respect for function define the work of this furniture-focused design-build practice.
4429 West Division Street, Chicago
normanteaguedesignstudios.com

Navillus Woodworks
Custom woodworking studio creating bespoke furniture and architectural millwork.
2100 North Major Avenue, Chicago
+1 312 375 2680, navilluswoodworks.com

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Los Angeles

Abundant natural light and a balmy climate combine with car culture and the entertainment industry to inform southern California’s airy design aesthetic.

Kalon
Furniture-design company creating refined pieces with US craftspeople from responsibly sourced materials.
3559 1/2 West CasitasAvenue, LosAngeles
+1 323 928 2161, kalonstudios.com

AD Miller
Architecture firm making furniture and residential and hospitality projects defined by clean lines and honest materials.
5801Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles
+1 310 490 8673, ad-miller.com

Commune Shop
Retail arm of its namesake design studio, offering curated furniture, objects and home accessories.
2504West 7th Street, Suite A, Los Angeles
+1 310 855 9080, communedesign.shop

OWIU Design
Only Way Is Up (OWIU) is an interior-design and architecture practice creating spaces defined by considered craftsmanship and a dash of Southeast Asian aesthetics.
1850 Industrial Street,107, Los Angeles
+1 213 590 5251, owiu-design.com

Nuova Group
Nuova – an acronym for New Understanding of Various Artifacts – is a multidisciplinary design practice, working across product and spatial design, drawing inspiration from the tech and luxury industries.
nuova.us

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Mexico City

Home to arguably North America’s most vibrant design scene, Mexico City is where colourful mid-century modernism meets sustainable contemporary architecture. There’s a focus on local craft too, with furniture makers working hand in hand with manufacturers.

Fernanda Canales
Architecture meets academia at this studio known for innovative residential and institutional design that responds to cultural context and enhances social fabric.
fernandacanales.com

BlancasMorán
Architecture studio working across office, residential and leisure spaces, with projects defined by savvy conceptual layouts and fine details.
SierraVentana 700, LomasdeChapultepec, MexicoCity
blancasmoran.com

La Metropolitana
Based in a former textile factory, this is a furniture maker with a social cause – its workshops place an emphasis on upskilling craftspeople.
Dr Lucio 181, Doctores, Mexico City
+52 55 8791 7182, lametropolitana.com

Sofia Elias
This Guadalajara-born, Mexico City-based sculptor, draughtsperson, designer and architect is defined by experimentation across materials and typologies.
sofiaelias.mx

Alejandra Perini
Colombia-born product designer with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and materiality, with wares defined by pops of colour and curving forms.
alejandraperini.com

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New York

The grid system and vertical ambition drive this regional design capital, with skyscraper innovation, small-space solutions and cultural diversity.

Galerie Was
Contemporary gallery and design space showcasing collectable design and homeware from emerging and established creatives.
301 Broome Street, NewYork
galeriewas.com

Roman and Williams Guild
Modern-day studio creating furniture, lighting and home accessories presented alongside curated handcrafted goods from global artisans.
53 Howard Street, NewYork
+1 212 852 9099, rwguild.com

Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu
Architecture studio working on new constructions and adaptive reuse projects, with an ambition to shape a stronger civic realm and interface between public and private spaces.
42 Adelphi Street, NewYork
+1 718 624 6666, solidobjectives.com

Studio Zewde
Leading landscape-architecture practice, creating everything from gardens to civic spaces that respond to place and local culture through form, function, materiality and physical connections to wider landscapes.
218 Lenox Avenue, NewYork
+1 212 518 1548, studio-zewde.com

Civilian
Design studio guided by hospitality principles, creating welcoming interiors that pay respect to the architecture and its users.
141 Flushing Avenue, NewYork
civilianprojects.com

Seitz
Swiss-American furniture brand, creating made-in-Switzerland furniture that champions craft and slow living.
11 347 599 1403, studioseitz.com

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San Francisco

The Bay Area’s technology industry pushes innovations in fields from furniture to architecture. It’s a drive to rethink the future that is supported by some of the country’s top design schools in Berkeley and Stanford.

Hood Design Studio
Landscape-architecture firm specialising in community-centred design and projects concerned with environmental justice.
3001 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland 11 510 595 0688, hooddesignstudio.com

Fuseproject
Innovative design consultancy creating low- and high-tech consumer products, from simple timber stools and ceramics to robotic bassinets and electric trucks.
1401 16th Street, San Francisco
fuseproject.com

Heath Ceramics
Small-scale pottery studio established in 1948 that has evolved into a much-loved contemporary ceramics company creating handcrafted tiles, dinnerware and architectural products.
2900 18th Street, San Francisco
11 415 361 5552, heathceramics.com

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Toronto

Canada’s best creatives converge in its biggest city, thanks to a strong manufacturing base and abundance of design-minded events and festivals.

Coolican & Company
Small-batch furniture design and fabrication studio producing solid wood furniture with heirloom-quality construction and timeless appeal.
368 Mill Street, Dundas, Ontario
coolicanandcompany.com

Mary Ratcliffe Studio
Studio whose output is driven by a small group of talented craftspeople producing handmade furniture defined by gentle curves and sculptural masses.
+1 416 616 1942, maryratcliffe.studio

Yabu Pushelberg
International design firm known for furniture design and luxury hospitality, residential and retail projects.
55 Booth Avenue, Toronto
+1 416 778 9779, yabupushelberg.com

Odami
Spanish and Canadian influences combine at this design agency, which creates soulful and functional spaces and objects that blend the pragmatic with the expressive.
174 Spadina Avenue Unit 502, Toronto
+1 416 218 1101, odami.ca

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Vancouver

The Pacific Northwest influences Vancouver’s nature-inspired design aesthetic. Strong environmental consciousness drives everything from sustainable furniture manufacturing to architecture.

A-N-D
Contemporary lighting design company creating minimalist fixtures with a focus on craftsmanship.
1951 Franklin Street, Vancouver
+1 604 563 6938, a-n-d.com

Bocci
Glassmaking specialists creating sculptural contemporary lighting fixtures with innovative glass techniques.
495 Railway Street, Vancouver
+1 604 639 5195, bocci.com

Medellín

The Colombian city’s 21st-century transformation demonstrates how building socially minded architecture, embracing greenery and car-free transport can heal communities and foster hope.

Fango
Led by Francisco Jaramillo, this studio works at the intersection of art and design, creating collectable pieces using local materials and craftsmanship to address social and environmental challenges.
info@fangostudio.com

Tu Taller
Colombian furniture and homeware brand that blends advanced digital manufacturing with traditional craftsmanship to create affordable and original products and spaces.
Calle 10, 43C-81, El Poblado, Medellín
tutallerdesign.com

ALH Arquitectura
Led by two brothers, this architecture firm is known for its meticulous attention to detail and projects that consider environmental impact.
Carrera 30, 4-45, Forever W&L Building, Medellín
+57 407 7891, alhtaller.com

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Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has been shaped by European immigration, with Spanish, French and Italian architectural influences prominent throughout the Argentinian capital. Genius loci is embraced in the form of indigenous materials, prominently used in the local furniture-making scene.

Cupla Arquitectura
Emerging architecture studio that prioritises fine detailing and craftsmanship, creating projects with harmonious physical identities.
Paroissien 3849, Saavedra, Buenos Aires
+549 11 5134 0152, cuplaarquitectura.com

Pedro Ignacio Yañez
Architecture studio that focuses on residential projects whose forms often examine the relationship between solid and void, indoors and out.
Virrey del Pino 2446 6i, Los Eucaliptos Building, Buenos Aires
+549 11 6978 4184, pedroyanez.com.ar

Sur del Cruz
This furniture studio and workshop operates at the intersection of design and art, creating works driven by expertise with wood and a commitment to artisanal knowledge.
surdelcruz.com

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Santiago

Mountainous landscapes and seismic activity inform Chile’s design culture, where earthquake-resistant construction meets European-influenced architectural aesthetics.

Bravo
Working across object, interior and furniture design, this studio blends local manufacturing with new technologies, prioritising simple, thoughtful making processes and design solutions.
EliodoroYáñez 2187, Office 11, Providencia, Santiago
bravo.io

NueveDesignStudio
Industrial-design studio known for developing objects and furniture that are characterful and respond to the needs of contemporary lifestyles.
+569 9978 2810, nuevedesignstudio.com

CristiánRomeroValente
Residential-architecture firm whose work is defined by an ability to strip down forms to their most essential, seamlessly integrating clean lines, natural light and the surrounding environment.
+569 9345 3252, romerovalente.cl

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Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro’s design culture embraces indoor-outdoor living. Carnival culture influences the city’s colourful, celebratory interior designs, while favela innovations inspire adaptive housing solutions.

Studio Leandro Neves
Design studio focusing on residential projects, emphasising minimalist forms and drawing influence from rationalist architecture.
Avenida Nossa Senhorade Copacabana, 195–Sala1415, Rio de Janeiro
+55 21 3259 5883, studioleandroneves.com

Ecomimesis
Landscape studio that integrates a scientific understanding of natural processes in its work, helping to foster relationships between people and the environment.
Rua Jardim Botânico, 468, Rio de Janeiro
+55 21 3495 2302, ecomimesis.com.br

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São Paulo

A modernist architectural heritage and a strong manufacturing base inform contemporary practice, cementing São Paulo as one of Latin America’s leading creative scenes.

Palma
This studio combines the fields of art and architecture in projects across a multitude of scales and typologies, from building to set design.
palmapalma.com.br

Isabel Duprat Arquitetura Paisagística
Landscape-architecture studio known for residential projects that integrate with and promote the value of the existing environment.
+55 11 3088 1826, isabelduprat.com

Metro Arquitetos Associados
This architecture studio brings a high level of technical rigour to projects from master planning to urban interventions and renovations of historic buildings.
Avenida Ipiranga 344, Room 251A, São Paulo
+55 11 3255 1221, metroarquitetos.com.br

Etel
Gallery specialising in furniture created by Brazil’s greatest designers and artists since the turn of the 20th century.
Alameda Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 1834, São Paulo
+55 11 3064 1266, etel.design

Auckland

New Zealand’s biggest city trades on multicultural influences, with a strong embrace of local materials and microclimates, thanks to its spectacular waterfront setting and Indigenous history.

Monk Mackenzie
Multidisciplinary studio creating elegant, sculptural and poetic architecture, from residential to civic projects.
106-108 Quay Street, Auckland
+64 9 600 3335, monkmackenzie.com

Resident
Design house merging Kiwi manufacturing excellence with design concepts defined by pure forms to create sleek furniture and lighting.
9C Exmouth Street Eden Terrace, Auckland
+64 21 207 9213, resident.co.nz

Studio South
Creative agency working across brand development, packaging design and wayfinding strategy, building cohesive visual identities.
27 Hargreaves Street, Saint Marys Bay, Auckland
+64 09 379 6434, studiosouth.co.nz

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Bangkok

Complex urban waterways and a tropical climate have influenced Bangkok’s design evolution, where traditional teak architecture meets sleek contemporary malls and high-rise towers.

Landprocess
Landscape-architecture firm committed to tackling the climate crisis by creating carbon-sequestering and resilient urban landscapes.
+66 2 641 8483, landprocess.co.th

Studio Make
Located near Bangkok, this studio works on everything from architecture and interiors to furniture design and prefabricated construction, all created by its hands-on team of designers and makers.
44/4 Soi Baan Sai Ma, Rattanathibet Road, Nonthaburi
+66 2 528 6212, studiomake.com

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Hong Kong

East meets West in Hong Kong, creating a distinctive fusion of style, evidenced in everything from the city’s architecture to works by local creative studios.

One Bite Design
Multidisciplinary design company looking to create better emotional connections between people and physical spaces through placemaking and urban interventions.
50-54 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan
+852 2803 0202, onebitedesign.com

Joyce Wang Studio
Interior-architecture studio known for luxury hospitality and residential design projects.
12 Kennedy Street, Wan Chai
+852 2804 1138, joycewangstudio.com

Design Eight Five Two
Interdisciplinary design studio working across architecture, identity design and interiors, creating places and spaces deeply rooted in local vernaculars.
1F Arran Tower, 7 Arran, Kowloon
+852 2385 2228, designeightfivetwo.com

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Jakarta

Indonesia’s capital has smartly built neighbourhoods embracing greenery, with traditional batik textiles and carved furniture techniques informing the contemporary design of everything from furniture to graphics.

Bitte
This design firm takes a holistic approach to creating architectural and interior environments across hospitality and residential projects.
Jalan Jurang Mangu Barat No 8, Tangerang Selatan
+62 811 8581 773, bitte-design.com

Andra Matin
Celebrated architect integrating tropical modernism with Indonesian vernacular traditions, with an emphasis on natural ventilation, local materials and a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces.
Jalan Manyar III Blok O-3 Kavling 29-30 No 4-6, Bintaro Jaya Sektor I, Jakarta Selatan
+62 21 735 3338, andramatin.com

Thinking Room Inc
Branding and design company that combines graphic work with strategic thinking, creating clear narratives.
Citylofts Sudirman, Suite 919, Jalan Kyai Haji Mas Mansyur, Kavling 121, Jakarta
+62 21 2555 8596, thinkingroominc.com

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Kyoto

Japan’s former imperial capital retains links to its storied past through the numerous furniture firms working in the city, building on its legacy of craft.

Koyori
Furniture brand working with creatives from across the globe, blending Japanese craftsmanship with high-end international design.
+81 075 241 3783, koyori-jp.com

Endo Shojiro Design
Architecture and design studio creating refined spaces with a traditional Japanese sensibility.
83 Nishishichijo Minaminishinocho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
+81 075 201 7086, endo-design.jp

Kohseki
Design firm with divisions for Japanese-style lighting fixtures and Danish-inspired furniture, glass and objects, bringing together two manufacturing cultures.
15 Nishi Goshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita-Ku, Kyoto
+81 075 415 2818, kohseki.com

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Melbourne

Design seemingly permeates every corner of Australia’s cultural capital. There’s a strong understanding of branding, splashed across café windows and coffee packaging, with design-minded retailers and some of the country’s best architects.

Tuckbox Design
Custom cabinetry specialists using technology and meticulous craftsmanship to produce high-quality, ready-to-assemble shelves, cupboards and more.
2/87 MerolaWay, Campbellfield
+61 432 156 077, tuckbox.com.au

The Company You Keep
Branding agency creating powerful but understated work, spanning digital, print, architecture, content and visual-identity campaigns.
15 Bedford Street, Collingwood
+61 03 8578 3548, tcyk.com.au

Breathe
A pioneering architecture firm, renowned for developing beautiful, community-focused urban housing that is socially and financially sustainable.
7 Alfred Place, Melbourne
+61 03 9381 2007, breathe.com.au

Brud Studia
Furniture- and object-design studio combining brutalist and primitive design methods with contemporary production methods.
122 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
brudstudia.com

Volker Haug
Decorative lighting practice creating pared-back, elegant and finely detailed pieces informed by a sense of discovery and experimentation.
2-12 St Phillip Street, Brunswick East
+61 03 9387 1803, volkerhaug.com

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Mumbai

India’s financial capital has an equally bustling creative scene, where art deco buildings provide the backdrop for contemporary design innovation.

Casegoods
Furniture line of architecture studio Case Design that creates products rooted in ancient craft traditions and contemporary aesthetics.
A-49, Nandjyot Industrial Estate Andheri Kurla Road, Mumbai
+91 80972 70837, casegoods.in

Aequo
Design gallery dedicated to advancing Indian craftsmanship by connecting global creatives with local artisans to produce innovative, collectable furniture.
Unit 11, 1st Floor, Devidas Mansion Boman Behram Marg, Mumbai
aequo.in

Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Architecture studio creating spaces informed by local culture and history to foster relationships between people and their surroundings.
420-421, Unique Industrial Estate, TwinTowerLane, SVSRoad, Mumbai
+91 22 24327249, srda.co

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Seoul

A regional powerhouse, Seoul has a strong manufacturing tradition thanks to a postwar production boom. It’s a legacy that translates to strong product design today.

Studio FNT
Graphic-design studio and visual-identity specialists bringing clarity and coherence to corporate brands and cultural clients.
32 Noksapyeong-daero 40na-gil, Yongsan District,Seoul
studiofnt.com

Mass Studies
Award-winning design firm creating designs that draw inspiration from traditional Korean architecture while meeting contemporary needs.
46 Hoenamu-ro 44ga-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
+82 2-790-6528, massstudies.com

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Singapore

A distinctive blend of multicultural influences and a pragmatic approach to urban challenges results in a particularly innovative design scene in the Lion City.

Supermama
Design brand and museum shop blending contemporary Singaporean design with Japanese craftsmanship to create fine porcelain homeware.
213 Henderson Road,01-01, Singapore
+65 9615 7473, supermamastore.com

Practice Theory
Branding and creative agency using strategic storytelling to create distinct and lasting brand identities.
4B Lorong 32 Geylang, Singapore
practicetheory.com.sg

Right Angle Studio
Interior-design firm creating residential and commercial spaces defined by rich materiality, an efficient use of space and timeless appeal.
280 Woodlands Industrial Park E5, 08-19, Singapore
+65 8087 1552, rightanglestudio.com.sg

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Sydney

Sydney’s creative scene is shaped by its spectacular harbour setting, balmy climate and strong culture of outdoor living, producing optimistic and environmentally minded design work.

Arent & Pyke
Architecture studio making colourful, material-rich environments that engage the senses and uplift the spirit.
7 Nickson Street
+61 02 9331 2802, arentpyke.com

The Letters
Type foundry creating contemporary and expressive fonts with progressive, inventive and high-quality typographic solutions.
+61 02 9517 4871, theletters.co

Studio Henry Wilson
Design firm producing furniture, lighting and accessories with a focus on utilitarianism and honouring the imperfect beauty of handcrafted objects.
87 Paddington Street
+61 02 9159 3963, studiohenrywilson.com

Actuel Studio
Multidisciplinary design studio specialising in brand-identity development and expression, working with clients across fashion, retail and publishing.
3/82 Myrtle Street, actuel.studio

Dangar Barin Smith
Landscape-design practice combining horticultural expertise with in-house construction to create lush gardens for residential and hospitality projects.
19 Rochester Street
+61 02 9316 9044, dangarbarinsmith.com.au

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Taipei

The Taiwanese capital’s thriving design scene draws on the East Asian city’s historic resilience and a forward-thinking spirit that brings together tradition and innovation.

Waterfrom Design
This firm’s name explains its design ethos, which is grounded in the belief that interior design and architecture should be like water – fluid and malleable.
5F, 35, Alley 20, Lane 407, Tiding Boulevard, Neihu District, Taipei City
+886 2 2700 5007, waterfrom.com

Motif Planning & Design Consultants
Landscape-design firm working to create aesthetically original and environmentally responsive parks and urban plans.
4F, 278, Section 1, Xiyuan Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
motifla.com.tw

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Tokyo

Fire, earthquakes and rapid economic development laid the foundations for Tokyo’s dynamic architecture and its design scene, which plays host to numerous bubbly branding studios and sleek architecture outfits.

Keiji Ashizawa Design
Design firm that is renowned for creating finely detailed spaces, overseeing everything from architecture and interiors to furniture.
5-6-13 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo
keijidesign.com

Design Studio S
Industrial-design studio producing a diverse range of products, from electronic goods to furniture, defined by a joyful aesthetic and intuitive use.
1-12-24-MT3-2F, Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
design-ss.com

Karimoku Commons
Gallery-like space that is dedicated to its namesake furniture group, which oversees design research, production and the development of architectural case studies, rooted in a deep appreciation for Japanese timber.
2-22-5 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
commons.karimoku.com

MMA Inc
Architecture firm that draws inspiration from nature to create buildings made from traditional materials at a human scale.
3-5-33 1F Aobadai, Meguro, Tokyo
m-m-architecture.com

Tank
Construction company and design studio delivering well-crafted spaces, from retail and hospitality to commercial sectors.
2-29-11 Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 5799 6684, tank-tokyo.jp

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Wellington

New Zealand’s cultural hub has a creative scene that is shaped by its waterfront setting and seismic conditions, which drive creative architectural solutions and flexible planning.

KlimType Foundry
Typography studio creating contemporary typefaces and font families for global use.
23-B Totara Road, Miramar
klim.co.nz

Seear-Budd Ross
Architecture firm creating atmospheric residential, commercial and public buildings.
+64 27 715 7990, seearbuddross.com

1.
Centre de Congrès
Rabat

At the heart of the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique campus in Rabat is a conference centre that combines grandeur with a warm welcome and the spirit of intellectual inquiry.

Conference centres can be sterile, unimaginative spaces. An outstanding exception is the new Centre de Congrès on the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique campus in Rabat. Designed by Barcelona-based Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, it’s a benchmark for the creation of inspiring meeting spaces. While the building’s exterior – with its sweeping stone arches and grand, angular porticoes – makes a striking impression, its interiors are calm and welcoming. The auditorium has deep emerald walls and matching upholstered chairs, with the stage sitting beneath a white domed skylight, which diffuses a gentle glow in the space. The result is a facility that’s not only capable of hosting events of all kinds, from industry conferences to public performances, but quietly elevates campus life.

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2.
Space House
London

The eye-catching, Grade II-listed former home of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority is now flying high – revived after a three-year revamp that has brought it firmly into the future, deliberately flaunting its classic brutalist features.

On the fringes of London’s Covent Garden, amid an entanglement of retailers and university buildings, stands Space House – a monolithic, beehive-like 16-storey building. Though it’s hard to comprehend today, the towering brutalist office block was largely overlooked by the public’s undiscerning eye when the building was completed in 1968.

It was architect George Marsh, who was then working at R Seifert and Partners, who radicalised this plot of land. Marsh and his team set out to create a structure with a circular floorplate and 360-degree views that stretch from the Houses of Parliament and the Thames to the BT Tower in Fitzrovia. The result was a concrete behemoth that was in keeping with the period’s burgeoning brutalist movement (think the now-iconic Barbican housing estate in central London and the National Theatre on the South Bank).

From 1975, Space Home served as the home of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority. But when the government body vacated the premises at the end of its lease in 2019, it was time for a pep up. Property developer Seaforth Land obliged when it purchased Space House in 2022. “The building is magnetic – there’s an incredible optimism in the architecture, almost absorbed by the future-facing sentiment of the period,” says Tyler Goodwin, Seaforth Land’s CEO. “It was an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up. We wanted to maintain that beauty, which is far more appreciated now than it was then.”

When it came to the three-year renovation, the building’s Grade-II status and 23,700 sq m of floor space meant that careful consideration of the existing structure was paramount. Squire & Partners, the architecture firm leading the redesign, shifted the main entrance to create a grander, more welcoming south-facing foyer. New lifts with fluted-concrete interiors were designed in keeping with the building’s visual language. Sustainable implementations saw a complete overhaul of its internal heating and cooling systems to meet modern standards. “On a project such as this, it’s the authenticity that’s important – uncovering it and then celebrating it,” says Goodwin. “That’s the real joy of refreshing original properties.”
spacehouse.london

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3.
PAL 1 BT by Tivoli Audio
Boston

A charming throwback to a simpler time that’s packed with modern features.

Want to stay in the know with a podcast or play the latest tunes on the go? Then Boston-based Tivoli Audio’s portable Pal 1 BT radio is your ideal companion.

Though it evokes the reassuring solidity and feel of a 1950s wireless, it doesn’t skimp on technological prowess. This new iteration of the design features both a Bluetooth-supported speaker and a DAB and FM radio, all while offering a well-balanced sound. It’s available in a range of colourways, including this particularly loud yellow – a reminder that great sound is worth shouting about.
tivoliaudio.com

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4.
Eames House
Los Angeles

Having survived January’s Los Angeles wildfires, the mid-century home of Charles and Ray Eames has reopened to visitors – and now offers access to the designers’ studio.

The wildfires that ravaged LA came perilously close to destroying the Eames House – the former home of mid-century designers Charles and Ray Eames and now a museum. After avoiding catastrophe and undergoing smoke restoration, it’s ready to welcome visitors once again. For the first time in its 76-year history, this includes the adjacent Eames Studio, where Charles and Ray worked on everything from furniture prototypes to film editing. “People know them mostly for their chair designs but by coming here you also learn that they were graphic designers, artists, industrial designers and filmmakers,” says Eames Demetrios, the designers’ grandson.
eamesfoundation.org

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5.
Golden Avenue
Brisbane

A new multi-level restaurant by J.AR Office transports the cool and calm of a Middle Eastern courtyard to the heart of Brisbane’s commercial district, serving as a lush oasis with its climate-responsive design.

Designed by architects J.AR Office, Golden Avenue is a new restaurant from Brisbane’s Anyday group. Its defining feature is a central space with an adjustable roof and shutters that let in sunshine on cool days and diffuse heat when it’s warm. “In Middle Eastern architecture, this courtyard typology is valued for the air, light and refuge that it provides,” says J.AR Office’s Jared Webb. Combined with the building’s thermal mass, additional shading and passive air circulation, it ensures that the restaurant doesn’t have to rely on air conditioning. “We wanted to emphasise the feeling of being outdoors and embrace Brisbane’s climate,” says Webb.
anyday.com.au

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6.
Los Angeles Bus Shelter
Los Angeles

The bus shelter has been given a long-overdue revamp, offering real-time arrivals information, plus some very welcome shade.

“Bus shelters have long been an underappreciated feature of city streets. Now, Los Angeles is tapping their potential with a network of modular bus stops inspired by Californian modernism. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with the help of Designworks, Studioneleven and Tranzito-Vector, the shelters serve various needs. Every model features digital displays with real-time arrival times, weather information and alerts. Some will also feature e-scooter racks and e-lockers.

So far, the city has installed 150 units, with a total of 3,000 planned over the next decade. As climate change drives temperatures to unprecedented heights, the structures also provide shade in areas that lack tree cover.
som.com

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7.
Miramonti Boutique Hotel
Merano

The beloved hotel’s new cabins promise a soothing stay among the trees.

Merano’s Miramonti Boutique Hotel has expanded its offering with three new cabins adjacent to the property, renovated under the direction of designer Harry Thaler. The project, he says, is about “simplicity, quiet and character. I developed Monti as a contemporary forest retreat that respects the heritage and the unique energy of the place.” To bring the project to life, Thaler worked with Tara architects.

The residences are designed to blend with nature: think muted tones, plenty of wood and floor-to-ceiling windows. Best of all, the rooftops feature steel tubs for cold-water therapy and warming wood-fired saunas. “Each house is like a different chapter in the same book,” he says. “It’s a story of retreating into the forest and finding balance.”
hotel-miramonti.com

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8.
Valentyns
Köln

Designed by celebrated German architect Thomas van den Valentyn, the Köln-based company’s new workspace offers well-appointed rooms, evening wellness options and plenty of natural light. Small wonder the employees seldom take sick days…

Architects and designers don’t typically utter the words work and wellness in the same breath. But Valentyns’ new office set-up in a 1960s modernist building in Köln proves that this doesn’t have to be the case. Designed by German architect Thomas van den Valentyn – best known for his restoration of Berlin’s Presidential Palace, as well the Beethoven Haus Archive and Chamber Music Hall in Bonn – this workspace overlooking the Rhine riverbank is equal parts business and pleasure.

During the day, members and employees in the 43 private offices can work in well-appointed rooms equipped with pieces by the likes of USM, Le Corbusier and Fritz Hansen. In the evening they can indulge in a host of wellness offerings, from Finnish and infrared saunas to custom-made ice baths and workouts using Technogym kit. Natural light floods most of the building’s spaces, creating an inviting and creatively stimulating atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that feels intimate and welcoming without trying too hard to emulate a home: it’s sleek but not impersonal. Valentyns claims that there has been a 30 per cent decrease in sick days since moving in – a reminder that when it comes to effective design, constructing an environment that makes people feel good is often just as important as prioritising what looks best.
valentyns.com

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9.
Barista by Monoware
London

Upgrade your home-brewed espresso with this collection of UK-designed, Portuguese-made stoneware coffee cups.

“Looking for the kind of crockery worthy of the buzziest cafés? Then take your pick from London brand Monoware’s latest collection, made in Portugal from matte glazed stoneware. The cups’ soft, round shapes make them an attractive addition to any kitchen.
monoware.com

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10.
Surat Flyover
Surat, India

A neglected space under a flyover has been transformed into a sports facility that’s accessible to all.

Like many cities, Surat in the Indian state of Gujarat has plenty of underused urban pockets and not enough accessible spaces for recreation. To address this, the Surat Municipal Corporation asked architecture firm Aangan Collaborative to reimagine the void beneath a flyover as a sports facility and community hub. The design unfolds along a pedestrian spine, with a series of enclosed micro-cement courts offering durable, high-performance surfaces for various activities. Encased within a skin of aluminium mesh and polycarbonate, the facility offers security and acoustic insulation from traffic.

“The project is a break from the exclusivity of clubs and gated institutions, making sports accessible to everyone,” says Niti Shah, a senior associate architect at Aangan Collaborative. “The city’s urban voids hold immense potential to be transformed into vibrant spaces. The project is a prototype demonstrating how Indian cities can make the most of them.”
aanganarchitects.org

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11.
Casa Montelongo
Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

An artfully designed micro hotel in Fuerteventura where tradition meets modernity offers the chance to slow down and connect with the island’s charming vernacular.

Close to the northern shores of Fuerteventura, a 19th-century family home in the town of La Oliva is enjoying a renewed purpose as a two-suite micro hotel. Casa Montelongo, designed by Lanzarote-born and Berlin-based architect Néstor Pérez Batista, reinterprets Canarian vernacular with a deft, subtle touch. While Fuerteventura features no shortage of sprawling resort complexes, Casa Montelongo’s revival centres on the blending of traditional island materials – volcanic stone, lime and clay – with contemporary elements. Skylights and clean-lined interiors seamlessly integrate with thick stone walls and wood accents that regulate heat while creating a tactile, inviting atmosphere.

Guests are gently nudged to engage with the architecture as much as the island. “We want Casa Montelongo to become an artful alternative to generic, mass hospitality,” says Batista. As a tasteful, small-scale counterweight to other hotels on the island, the casa quietly proves that slowness and cultural memory can still set the pace.
casamontelongo.com

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12.
Folding Torch by Snowpeak
Japan

Going on an excursion into the great outdoors? Then go prepared with this elegant torch that combines utility with a minimalist Japanese aesthetic.

Planning on pitching a tent but determined not to sacrifice style for unwieldy camping supplies? Japanese brand Snow Peak distils generations of technical mountaineering know-how into this compact folding torch that screws straight onto a portable gas canister. With an attractive natural wood handle and a robust stainless-steel frame, this flambeau will add plenty of fuel to any campfire.
snowpeak.com

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13.
Gunia Project
Kyiv

For its new shop in the Ukrainian capital, homeware brand Gunia has created an immersive space that incorporates elements of its location with its own gentle outlook.

For its new shop in Kyiv’s Golden Gate district, fashion and homeware brand Gunia decided to take a fresh approach. “We wanted to create a space where all of the aspects of our brand could coexist,” says Maria Gavryliuk, who co-founded the company with Natalia Kamenska in 2018. “It was about immersing visitors in our universe.”

The duo hired Anastasiia Tempynska’s architecture studio Temp Project. “The inspiration was Gunia itself,” says Tempynska. “The brand evokes a sense of innocence, like the feeling of drinking tea in a garden or walking through a quiet village.” Inside the former Panamanian consulate building, carved wooden panelling is offset by green tiling and soft blue carpets, while metal and glass contrast with the pastel effect. The shop also brings in aspects of the neighbourhood. “The wood’s chocolate brown and the blue echo Saint Sophia Cathedral.”
guniaproject.com

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14.
Langelinieskuret
Copenhagen

Studio David Thulstrup’s new wine bar, in a landmark 1902 customs building, gives patrons a taste of the site’s rich history.

The Langelinieskuret has long loomed large in the collective memory of Copenhagen’s residents. Designed by architect Vilhelm Dahlerup, the building was completed in 1894. Its 350-metre-long façade and rooftop promenade served as a loading bay for ships transporting goods through the Danish capital’s port until the late 20th century. Now, it has been transformed into an event space and wine bar by development firm Karberghus. “This was originally a very popular place for the public to come and watch the harbour,” says Karberghus’s CEO, Andreas Karberg. “Today it can be a place where people come for a glass of wine after work.”

This vision was brought to life by Copenhagen-based Studio David Thulstrup, which revamped the interiors using materials referencing the building’s existing industrial aesthetic. Polished versions of Ølandstone have been deployed for selected counter tops, patinated steel clads the bar, structural walls have been lime-washed and the existing wooden floor has been retained and stained black.

“I always investigate a place and look at what the building is made from,” says Thulstrup. “I want to see how I can use that materiality in my work.” The Danish architect broke up the building’s cavernous interior by installing hanging panels and screens throughout the space – interventions that didn’t compromise the structural integrity of the listed structure. “We had to protect and celebrate the building mass,” adds Thulstrup. “At the same time, we needed solutions that could ensure that it can function now.”

Other additions by Thulstrup have also enhanced the building’s contemporary functionality. Full-length dark-brown leather curtains add warmth, tactility and acoustic padding, while also concealing wine storage. Font chairs, designed by Thulstrup and produced by Møbel Copenhagen, are upholstered in Savanne brown and burned grey Sørensen leather; these flank smoked grey float glass and Norwegian stone tabletops. It’s a hospitality space that perfectly fits Just Karberg’s brief and stays true to the vision of Dahlerup’s original structure.
davidthulstrup.com

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15.
Stainless-steel cutlery from Millimeter Milligram
Seoul

This cutlery set by a South Korean retailer brings plenty of character to the table.

This cutlery set is sure to be a conversation starter at any dinner table. Made from stainless steel, its flat form is reminiscent of the knives, spoons and forks found in first-class cabins during the golden age of aviation: think Raymond Loewy’s mid-century cutlery set for the Concorde or Arne Jacobsen’s work for SAS. Stocked by South Korean retailer Millimeter Milligram, it’ll make a delicious addition to any cutlery drawer.
mmmg.kr

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16.
Schafbergbahn Station
St Wolfgang, Austria

Austria’s steepest cogwheel railway has been given an upgrade with the award-winning revamp of a station designed to strengthen the connection between its users and the natural environment.

Best known for its hiking and skiing spots, Schafberg in Salzburg is also home to Austria’s steepest steam-rack railway. The design of its terminus, Schafbergbahn Station in St Wolfgang, recently won a Prix de Versailles architecture award. “I had to google what that was,” says Mario Mischelin, managing director of the railway owners, laughing. “The landscape is protected so we tried to integrate the building with the surroundings,” says Michael Höcketstaller of Salzburg-based practice Dunkelschwarz. The architects created a jagged wood-and-steel roof, breaking up the building’s scale, while installing panoramic windows to take in the grandeur of the landscape.
dunkelschwarz.com

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17.
Bidadari Park
Singapore

The reinvention of a park in the city-state has brought residents not only much-needed recreation space but a first-of-its-kind flood defence system.

Singapore’s Bidadari Park was home to a cemetery until the 2000s. Seeking to transform “the former place of rest into a restful place”, design studio CPG Consultants decided to take a leaf out of AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, says Caijin Huang, its vice-president of architecture. The designers created their own take on its Hundred Acre Wood, implementing play areas, winding boardwalks and log piles that foster a sense of joy and discovery.

CPG also enhanced the park’s flood protection, adding terraced wetlands, marshes and an artificial stream, as well as Alkaff Lake, which doubles as a stormwater retention pond. With floods increasingly common, this system, crafted with government agencies and Denmark’s Henning Larsen studio, is more essential than ever.
cpgconsultants.com.sg

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18.
Another Country & Goldfinger
London, United Kingdom

A socially minded union showing the way to a sustainable design future.

British natural furniture brand Another Country recently acquired Goldfinger, a London-based design studio known for bespoke commissions, tree-cycling and community programmes. A reminder that there’s strength in numbers. anothercountry.com; goldfinger.design

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19.
Tala Wake lamp
London

Ease into the day with a lamp that adjusts its brightness to your natural circadian rhythms.

Owning the correct bedside lamp can help make getting up in the morning a genuine pleasure. London-based lighting company Tala’s Wake model features a hand-glazed base and a custom-made bulb that mirrors the sun’s luminosity to work with your circadian rhythms. The result? A soothing soft glow in the evening and brighter, energising illumination in the morning, reinforcing your natural sleep patterns. Its distinctive globular design makes it an eye-catching addition to any bedside table.
tala.co.uk

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20.
Between the covers
Global

Looking for a deep dive on the work of an outstanding architect or design movement?
Here’s our pick of the bunch.

Published by Park Books, Visiting examines the high-quality affordable housing of mid-century German architects Inken and Hinrich Baller. Also from the Zürich-based publisher is Concéntrico, which documents 10 years of the titular urbanism festival. Oro Editions’ Episodes in Public Architecture by Canadian architect Andrew Frontini is an exploration of civic projects, while City Living from Australia’s Uro focuses on the residences of Melbourne-based developer Neometro. Rounding out the selection is The Complete Work in Progress, a lever-arch file containing sheets celebrating the portfolio of Danish design firm Spacon. The binding method allows it to be updated as the practice grows.

“You were conceived in a bed that was designed – and probably born in one too,” Marva Griffin cheekily reminded me when I met the founder of SaloneSatellite, one of the world’s most significant showcases of emerging design talent, over lunch in Milan. “Design is really the oldest industry in the world because everything has been designed. I always say that [the purpose of] good design is simple: it’s for a better life. That is all.”

Her saucy reminder of my start to life has been a helpful jumping-off point for my own assessments of the quality of design. It’s easy to be distracted by beautiful materials and flashy forms without truly interrogating whether a design does more than simply look good. Examining things through Griffin’s lens, I have been inspired to seek out products and design approaches that might, indeed, encourage a better life.

Projects that have jumped out at me in recent months include a sleek, new camera by Japanese brand Sigma, aimed at making it easier to document the world around us. Fellow Japanese retailer Muji created an inspiring pop-up home using upcycled furniture and homeware that highlight potential ways to reduce environmental impacts, without the “hippy” look so often associated with repurposed furniture. UK-born Lulu Harrison has created beautiful glasses from waste products, cleaning up the local ecosystem and making smart pieces in the process. Meanwhile, Milan-based designer Keiji Takeuchi has curated a collection of walking sticks that, rather than taking the usual clinical or medical forms, are crafted from high-quality materials and feature distinct details that give dignity to the user – from hand grips made from woven rope to in-built baskets for carrying objects.

These works show that products that encourage a good life are rooted in serving users and making them more comfortable. It’s a vision that sums up what designers, from developers to architects, should be attempting to achieve in their work – and what everyday punters should be looking for. The best works of design – whether a sofa, a home or even the bed in which you were conceived – are uncompromising in their quality while putting service at their core.

The sofa in your living room reveals a lot about your priorities and your outlook on life. For designers and architects, there’s often an added layer of meaning: their choice of perch can reflect their core creative philosophies. Monocle explores this idea in our newly published book Designers on Sofas, for which we spoke to 50 leading architects and designers about their relationships with their settee. Here, we visit five more.

Find a comfy seat and settle in.

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1.
Amanda Levete
Architect, London
Sofa of choice: Anfibio, Giovannetti

Plump and easy to expand, UK architect Amanda Levete’s Anfibio sofa is steeped in history. A leather- covered version of it can be found in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, where designer Alessandro Becchi first showed the unconventional sofa-bed as part of the trail-blazing 1972 exhibition Italy: The New Domestic Landscape – a show that helped to put the country’s contemporary-design scene on the map.

But Levete came across the model about 10 years later, when she was house-sitting for her then-employer, British-Italian architect Richard Rogers. “Looking at it still reminds me of those happy days when I used to work for him,” she says.

Levete’s Anfibio is in her library. “It’s one of my weekend rituals to sit there in the morning sun, reading or playing Scrabble with my husband.” During holiday seasons, the sofa’s convertible form comes in handy. “Some of the best moments are at Christmas, when all of our kids are here,” adds Levete. “We open it up and it becomes a cosy nest for reading and chatting in.”

Despite its domestic appeal, the Anfibio is uniquely stylish. “It’s clever and consists of just one piece,” says Levete. “The soft profile is elegantly low enough so that it fits perfectly below a window without obscuring the view.” Manufactured by Tuscan brand Giovannetti, which had a long creative relationship with Becchi, the Anfibio is the product of a radical turn in design history whose ideas continue to resonate.

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2.
Konstantinos Pantazis and Marianna Rentzou
Architects, Athens
Sofa of choice: Vimle, Ikea

“The couch is like a home,” says Athens-based architect Konstantinos Pantazis, who co-founded Point Supreme studio with his wife, Marianna Rentzou, in 2008. “It’s a place where you need to be comfortable.” The couple designed their home in the Greek capital’s Petralona neighbourhood, updating an early-20th-century residence by blending surrealist ideas with contemporary Greek aesthetics. Taking pride of place at the centre of their living room – perhaps surprisingly, given their high architectural standards – is a Vimle sofa from Ikea.

“It’s so comfortable and unpretentious,” says Pantazis. “It’s not a couch that you need to be very careful with. You’ll find us on it during the day and also our two young children and their friends.” The couple’s configuration is composed of three deep, large cushions that can be easily removed to create additional room. Significantly, the sofa responds to the home’s architecture. “The house is pretty extreme in its proportions,” says Rentzou, explaining that the living room’s ceiling is three storeys high, with a tree planted at the centre. “It has a very strange feeling, a bit like being outside in a courtyard when you’re indoors.”

The resulting atrium-like atmosphere, combined with a multitude of hard surfaces (including a large table), could make for a cold and uninviting space – which is why the couple chose such a large sofa. “When you’re on the couch, it’s the only place that’s horizontal, soft and comfortable,” says Pantazis. “Everything else around it is hard. So that’s why the sofa feels so welcoming and warm.”

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3.
David Montalba
Architect, Los Angeles
Sofa of choice: Hamilton, Minotti

David Montalba is obsessed with the details. In his work, every line, junction and material is calibrated with precision – and that same sensibility extends to his own living spaces. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Santa Monica Canyon home that he designed for his family, where a custom Hamilton sectional sofa by Italian brand Minotti acts as both a centrepiece and a case study. Purchased in 2020, the couch was chosen to harmonise with the home’s restrained palette, spatial clarity and lived-in elegance.

“It’s a piece that changes with us,” says Montalba, who is the founding principal of Montalba Architects. Originally conceived as a single large L-shape, the sofa has since been rearranged multiple times to meet changing needs – from opening up space for a Christmas tree to framing conversations and allowing for easier movement through the room. “It became two sofas that speak to each other,” he says. “That dialogue made the room feel more alive.”

What began as a formal focal point has now evolved into a place of casual intimacy. His daughter has claimed a corner; the family dog perches on another ledge. And like the house itself, the settee has lost its sacredness, becoming a feature of daily life, family habits and spontaneous gatherings. “At first, we barely used it,” says Montalba. “Now we eat on it, watch TV and lounge. It’s part of our routine.”

Still, even in its most relaxed moments, the couch carries the refined sensibilities of its maker, Minotti. Montalba’s obsession with scale, proportion and tactility has turned a simple piece of furniture into an active participant in the home’s architectural effect. “A good sofa isn’t just something you sit on,” he says. “It helps to shape how you experience a room. It is part of the choreography.”

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4.
Chen Chen
Designer, New York
Sofa of choice: Togo, Ligne Roset

Brooklyn-based designer Chen Chen first encountered Michel Ducaroy’s low-slung Togo sofa – a 1973 design classic that is still manufactured by French furniture firm Ligne Roset – when he was a student at New York’s Pratt Institute. It immediately made a big impression on him. “It was unlike anything that I had ever seen before,” says Chen. “From that moment, I knew that I had to have one.” So when the time came to kit out his own apartment, he decided to buy one. “For me, it was the fulfilment of a dream – though, at that moment, I had never actually sat on one.”

Chen wasn’t disappointed and the Togo has become an integral part of his home set-up. “When it was delivered to my apartment, I was really surprised to find that there wasn’t a frame inside,” he says. “It’s essentially like a giant foam pillow.” The designer found that he could move the sofa – which was lighter than he expected it to be – without assistance, making it a perfect fit with his domestic arrangements.

“In New York, we don’t have a lot of space so it had to be functional, comfortable and also visually appealing,” says Chen. The Togo’s leather upholstery is another charm. “There are scars on the material from wear and tear over the years, like a history that is being written into the sofa.” This mutability appealed to the designer, whose practice with fellow Pratt Institute alumnus Kai Williams has a keen interest in the transformative qualities of materials.

Despite his deep love for the piece, however, Chen confesses that his ideal couch would be a roomier version than the one that he owns. “A lot of sofas funnel you in towards the centre,” he says. “If I were to design one, I would make sure that it had a lot of structure. It needs to keep people sitting where they are.”

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5.
William Smalley Luis
Architect, London
Sofa of choice: B&B Italia

“Sofas tend to be divided into those that look nice and those that are comfortable. And, as a rule, you can have either one or the other.” Architect William Smalley is describing the problem that often complicates the purchase of a home’s biggest piece of furniture. “So after I moved in here, I didn’t have a sofa for four years because I couldn’t find the right one.”

Thankfully, those days are over and Smalley’s home – a heritage-listed building in central London’s Bloomsbury neighbourhood – is now fully furnished, with a large modular sofa by B&B Italia taking pride of place in the living room. Designed by Antonio Citterio, the couch, titled Luis, has been through various configurations.

“I got the chaise and the ottoman, which went on the end of the couch,” says Smalley. “Then I wanted another, so I bought a chair section, which used to sit as a separate piece. And then, one day, the sofa and the chair made friends and the square thing at the end became the ottoman. So it has been sequential. The sofa has been added to and it is very comfortable.”

Smalley originally alternated brown and white covers for winter and summer. “The problem is that the white one is much nicer and I don’t really like being gloomy in winter,” he says. “And it’s not very white any more because I have a dog.”

The introduction of Smalley’s Jack Russell, Dylan (“as in Thomas”), served as a corrective to the idea that architects live in pristine, minimalist spaces. “I think that everyone has been very amused by Dylan messing up what they see as my perfect life.” The sofa is now a piece that has been lived in – and on – and has accrued its own history.

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If you head to Barcelona’s northeastern outskirts, where the city starts to give way to countryside, you’ll find yourself in the residential neighbourhood of Horta. And if, like Monocle, you have messaged ahead to signal your geographical discombobulation, you might just spot Pau Pibernat standing in the street, scrutinising the passing cars in search of a missing-in-action visitor. After a quick greeting, he will produce a remote control from his pocket and retract a roll-up metal door. Then he will take you through a passageway that leads to the hidden treasure trove that he and his father, Carles, have amassed since they started their business in 2021.

With assistance from Carles’s partner, industrial designer Constanze Schütz, the Pibernats run Fenix Originals, dealers in Catalan and Spanish furniture from the 1940s to the 1980s – though the occasional piece from, say, Herman Miller or Le Corbusier is allowed to sneak into the line-up too. That might not sound particularly unusual but it is. While these furniture makers were as skilled as their peers in the Nordics, France and Italy, many of them have only recently begun to receive the recognition that they deserve. This is thanks to people such as Pau and Carles, as well as a new generation of collectors, growing institutional interest and even film director Pedro Almodóvar (two chairs borrowed for his latest picture have just been returned).

“Part of this project is about putting the names of these designers on the table just as people in Scandinavia, for example, have done for their designers,” says Carles.

But there’s another reason that explains why these designers have sometimes been overshadowed by their contemporaries. “During the dictatorship [of Francisco Franco], Catalan designers weren’t selling much even in Spain and the production runs were also not very large,” says Pau. “Some of them were often just selling to the bourgeoisie in Barcelona.” He cites the example of pioneering industrial designer Jordi Vilanova, whose work combined elements of Scandinavian and Mediterranean design and was mainly popular with well-to-do Barcelonès. In recent years, however, his canon has been reappraised. “We’ve just sold some of his pieces to a key gallery in Holland,” says Pau.

So while, say, Danish mid-century furniture dealers are commonplace, their Iberian cousins are harder to locate (in every sense, it turns out, if you’re bad with a map). But first things first. Let’s look around this hidden-from-view, appointment-only gallery.

It’s a little overwhelming – in a good way. At the front of the space on white industrial racking sits chair after chair, all gently restored by the Pibernats and the artisans in their network. Then you come to a space with rooms set with furniture by designers including Joaquim Belsa Aldea and Vilanova (we spot a handsome walnut-and-marble side table from 1970 that could swiftly be rehoused), and lighting, such as Miguel Milá’s well-known work for Santa & Cole. Then there’s a repair station where, when we visit, Carles is in the throes of fixing a graceful Barceloneta armchair by Federica Correa and Alfonso Milá (Miguel’s elder brother). And last, we peek into a large storeroom filled with finds that have yet to be primed for sale. It’s a collection that has been put together with extraordinary knowledge, much of it gleaned by father and son after visiting archives, tracking down rare brochures from when the furniture or lighting first went on sale.

As the duo show Monocle around, their delight in what they have amassed is palpable. Carles produces a utilitarian folding metal chair with an orange frame and a shiny steel seat by Rafael Carreras Puigdengolas, from about 1960. “It’s the only one that we have found,” he says. We stop to inspect a Riaza armchair designed by Paco Muñoz in 1959 and produced by the firm Darro; it has a walnut frame that supports a back and seat stitched from a single piece of leather. There’s something reminiscent of Brazilian tropical modernism about its sturdy stature. “And look at this,” says Carles, stroking the black metal form of a fireplace, designed by architect José Antonio Coderch in 1952 for the company Polinax.

Both men are also champions of the work of Joaquim Belsa Aldea, whose output was aimed less at the middle classes than the masses and relied on the use of robust, artisan-style materials. They have coat racks made from loops of cane, a folding pine dining table, chairs with bright-blue frames constructed from tubular metal contorted to reflect the designer’s goal of making products with a single, continuous, flowing outline.

Another thing to admire is the relationship between Pau and Carles. They started the company at the height of the coronavirus pandemic when the latter decided that it was time to step away from his career as a graphic designer as it shifted from the craft that he had loved to the more pacey world of digital. Already a modest furniture collector, he saw an opportunity. Meanwhile, Pau, who was undertaking a doctorate in modern history, was wondering whether he really wanted to pursue an academic career. So they teamed up. “It was organic – my father had the idea and started setting up the business, and I said, ‘How can I help?’” says Pau. They bought a van and started tracking down pieces, giving themselves the target of amassing 100 items before launching their website (they took their Horta gallery space in 2023).

As for a name, in the 1980s there had been a design shop in Girona called Fenix Originals run by US designer Nancy Robbins. When it shuttered in the 1990s, Carles bought the sign and always said that one day he would launch a business with the same name, even using the same art deco-inspired font. Here, it rises again.

What next? Carles is clear. “To find better and better pieces, to discover forgotten designers and to focus on the cultural potential of this project. We want more time to do research, to tell these lost stories.”

“All of Brazil can be found in São Paulo,” says Manu Reyes, co-founder of Studio Reyes. “My father came to São Paulo [from Bolivia] because he saw that it was full of possibilities.” After a stint abroad, enrolling in courses and doing apprenticeships, Reyes returned to the metropolis and established her studio with her sister, Moira, in 2023. “There are so many different ways to inhabit and engage with this city. It’s a constant source of inspiration.”

Studio Reyes is just one of dozens of design studios, ateliers and art galleries to open in recent years in the post-industrial Barra Funda neighbourhood, where large warehouse spaces can still be found at a reasonable price. “There’s a strong sense of community here,” says Reyes. “For designers and artists, it’s a chance to exchange ideas.”

A few metro stops away, Centro, the city’s historic heart, is also being revived by creative communities. Once home to most of São Paulo’s major art institutions and businesses, this is where Brazil’s modernist movement began in the 1920s and the first Bienal de São Paulo was held. A wave of relocations in the late 20th century saw the neighbourhood slide into dilapidation. But young cultural players are now returning in force, transforming abandoned spaces, driven by a love for the area and the possibilities on offer.

Architects are also fuelling Centro’s renaissance. Setting up shop are big names such as Metro Arquitetos Associados, while smaller firms are opening up offices in buildings such as Galeria Metrópole, an open-topped 1950s shopping mall. Many of the district’s new generation of architects are graduates of the Escola da Cidade, an architecture university that opened in the neighbourhood in 2002 and is run by disciples of Brazil’s greatest architects, such as Oscar Niemeyer and Paulo Mendes da Rocha.

“The Escola da Cidade has been a catalyst for Centro’s boom in architects,” says Andrea Vosgueritchian, who runs architecture firm Estudio Tupi with her partner, Aldo Urbinati. Like the Reyes sisters, they have migrant roots. Vosgueritchian’s ancestry is Armenian, while Urbinati moved to São Paulo from the Amazonian city of Belém to study architecture.

“People come to São Paulo with a desire to make things happen,” says Urbinati. “It’s the ugliest city in the world and that’s why it attracts the best architects and artists. It is so disorganised that people want to resist this and create things that are more orderly and beautiful.”

There will almost certainly be designers and architects who disagree about the city’s beauty – or lack thereof – but most can agree that its size and financial muscle make São Paulo a place where creative movements and emerging talents can gain traction and scale quickly.

International audiences now flock here for the city’s many galleries and dealers; there are several museums and cultural centres, as well as a handful of high-profile events catering to the sector. The annual SP-Arte has become Latin America’s biggest commercial art fair. Design-only events – from DW! design week to Made (Mercado Arte Design) and Casacor – generate buzz and offer a chance to network. Then there are smaller open-studio gatherings such as those in Barra Funda and in Galeria Metrópole.

While Alameda Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, São Paulo’s so-called “design avenue”, is home to flagship furniture shops such as DPOT – a verdant, light-filled space by architect Isay Weinfeld – the city’s creatives are coming up with more accessible solutions too. “Before, there was just Alameda Gabriel,” says Manu Reyes. “But in São Paulo, every day brings a million new possibilities. This is where it all happens.”