Consolidating functions

The Exeter Road Pavilion is an adaptive reuse of a modest Victorian garden outbuilding in northwest London, reimagined as a hybrid domestic and social space for an art collector and amateur DJ. Conceived as both a storage environment and a setting for leisure, the project consolidates diverse functions – archiving, display, gathering, and recreation – within a unified architectural gesture that extends from interior to landscape.

 

Design Philosophy

At the core of the proposal lies a continuous cabinet, operating as a contemporary cabinet of curiosities. Beginning within the refurbished structure and extending outward into the garden, this linear element accommodates an array of uses: art storage and display, shelving for books and vinyl records, a DJ station, a television, and personal artifacts. As it moves outdoors, it integrates recreational functions, including a ping-pong table, weights, and garden games, maintaining spatial continuity across interior and exterior domains.

Encased in a perforated stainless-steel screen, the cabinet oscillates between transparency and opacity. Its surface reflects and filters light, producing shifting visual conditions throughout the day. This duality allows the cabinet to simultaneously reveal and conceal its contents, reinforcing its role as both container and spatial mediator.

 

 

Structural Logic

The cabinet operates not only as storage but also as a structural system, supporting the canopy that extends over the outdoor space. The relationship between these elements introduces a deliberate tension, inspired by the precarious compositions of Fischli & Weiss. Rather than adhering to conventional structural logic, the design removes an expected column, redistributing forces through a counterbalancing system.

This equilibrium is achieved through a precisely milled marble mass embedded within a galvanized steel I-beam, paired with a tension rod anchored to a concealed concrete block below ground. The resulting configuration establishes a legible yet unconventional structural narrative, where balance is perceived as dynamic and contingent rather than fixed.

 

 

Materials & Sustainability

The canopy itself is composed of layered materials – marble, steel, and polycarbonate – articulated in a clear tectonic hierarchy. Stainless steel cladding on the cabinet mirrors the surrounding vegetation, while translucent roofing elements diffuse light into the space below. This material palette oscillates between raw and refined, grounding the project in both industrial precision and environmental responsiveness.

Through reflection, translucency, and spatial extension, the pavilion dissolves the boundary between interior and exterior. It becomes an instrument for observing seasonal and daily changes, where light, vegetation, and built form interact continuously. The project ultimately establishes a condition in which structure, storage, and landscape remain in constant and perceptible dialogue.

 

Pocket Nursery

Set within a garden in the Belgian countryside stands the newly constructed wooden volume of Pocket Nursery, a 120m² “pocket” kindergarten whose architecture seeks to support learning through action and physical engagement.

 

Design Philosophy

In response to the programmatic requirements and the specific pedagogical approach, the creation of a space capable of cultivating design sensitivity in children was not simply desirable, but fundamental. The scope of spatial experimentation was largely determined by the thickness of the walls: their lower sections incorporate small steps for toddlers learning to stand, while their inclined surfaces double as drawing boards. Openings are positioned at the children’s eye level, establishing a direct visual connection with the garden, which functions as both a spatial extension and an integral component of the educational experience. An inclined table is also embedded within the walls, serving alternately as a pottery workstation or as a communal surface for shared meals.

 

 

Custom Construction

The ceiling – so often an overlooked architectural element, typically relegated to housing smoke detectors and mechanical devices – assumes a central role in this project. Considering that infants spend the first nine months of their lives lying on their backs or crawling, the ceiling design integrates not only structural logic but also acoustic performance and lighting strategy. Necessary equipment is discreetly concealed between layers of wooden panels, which articulate circulation toward the garden and the dormitories.

 

 

Material Palette

Construction time efficiency played a decisive role in shaping the project’s design strategy. Avoiding prefabricated wall systems and costly psychomotor furniture, the spatial framework was conceived to integrate both structure and furnishing into a continuous series of timber frames. Executed in laminated plywood sheets, the turned wooden frames were preassembled into units of three to four segments within just a few days, then transported to the site where they were joined together. The result is a cohesive environment that bridges interactive design and pedagogy through construction itself.

 

Balancing contrasts

The interior of the director’s office for a Ukrainian company seamlessly blends contrasting elements- the cold precision of steel with the warmth of wood veneer, the sharp geometry of metal with the organic beauty of natural marble.

 

Spatial Organization

This compact office comprises two interconnected rooms, separated by a glass partition. The first room serves as a waiting area and workspace for the secretary, while the second houses the director’s office and a conference area. Upon entering, visitors are welcomed into a cozy waiting area, framed by a combination of metal and wooden wall panels.

Soft armchairs and a round carpet contribute to the inviting atmosphere. Warm metal lighting, along with a custom-made floor lamp featuring a dimmer, enhances the intimate ambiance by casting reflections off the textured metal wall panels.

 

 

Materials & Equipment

The reception area presents a striking contrast of raw black metal and natural marble with an uneven edge, emphasizing the stone’s organic origin against the structured, geometric design of the reception desk. Storage solutions are discreetly integrated into the cabinetry near the secretary’s workstation, where a compact kitchen with a refrigerator and coffee machine is also concealed.

 

 

Custom Structures & Construction

The director’s office is divided into two distinct zones. The meeting area features a large marble table supported by steel legs shaped like rounded squares at the base. The director’s workspace is distinguished by a handcrafted wooden desk, custom-designed for this project, with rounded edges and elegantly curved legs. Complementing the overall aesthetic, shelves made from marble and steel serve both functional and decorative purposes, displaying samples of the company’s products.

The project required close collaboration with three specialized contractors -metalworkers, stonemasons, and furniture artisans. Nearly all furniture and structural elements were custom designed, incorporating intricate joinery and detailing in each piece.

 

Expressive materiality

A contemporary refuge at the foothills of Serra do Japi, in the countryside of São Paulo state, serves as the setting for an architectural project that revives ancient construction techniques.

 

Construction Strategy

The residence seamlessly integrates architecture with nature through its thoughtful use of materials and bioclimatic design. The project employs rammed earth -a technique introduced to Brazil by the Portuguese during the colonial period- where earth is compacted within a wooden formwork known as taipal using a tool called pilão. This technique, combined with exposed concrete and a lush rooftop garden, creates a robust and expressive materiality that harmonizes with the landscape while ensuring optimal environmental performance.

 

 

Spatial Layout & Materiality

The residence organically adapts to its radial plot through a curvilinear rammed earth wall, emphasizing materiality as a defining architectural element. This wall also enhances privacy, shielding the home from the street and neighboring properties. The layout follows a binuclear organization, centered around a main access point that leads to fluid, interconnected spaces opening onto a spacious garden and a pool at the rear. The striking horizontality of the structure is punctuated by a vertical tower, which houses bathrooms, water reservoirs, and technical equipment, adding a distinctive feature to the overall volumetric composition.

 

 

Sustainable Approach

Bioclimatic strategies are integrated throughout the design: an internal courtyard facilitates cross ventilation and natural lighting, while deep eaves and verandas protect the interiors from direct sunlight. The accessible rooftop doubles as an elevated garden, enhancing thermal insulation and providing a sustainable base for solar panels, maximizing energy efficiency. The project exemplifies architecture as both a comfortable retreat and an extension of its natural surroundings.

 

Disjointed architecture

The project involves the construction of a small preschool catering to children aged 0-6, as part of a larger initiative to revitalize a school complex in Macerata, in the district of Sforzacosta. With the aim of turning contextual constraints -such as a small plot of land and tight construction timelines -into opportunities, the project adheres to simple typological and construction characteristics.

 

Design Philosophy

The new building takes shape through a system of seemingly disjointed solids and voids, connected by a large, pitched roof that defines the footprint of the school and creates a series of threshold spaces between indoor and outdoor environments. The arrangement of three small, independent, and separate volumes, housing classrooms, offices, and facilities, creates a sequence of spaces with varied forms and proportions. The result is a porous system that seamlessly integrates with the garden through oblique views facilitated by changes in the roof section. The articulation of spaces becomes evident at transitional junctures, where the seamless flow between environments is highlighted. Within these “intermediate” spaces bridging the classrooms, various architectural elements -such as a striking portal, a skylight illuminating a double-height area, and a solitary column- emerge as focal points, inviting exploration and discovery due to their deliberate placement and size.

 

 

Spatial Layout

The building accommodates spaces for welcoming families, children, teachers, and educators, along with a music workshop, a sensory workshop for exploring smells and tastes, and a library. Within the same area, children can also share mealtime, as the facility is equipped with a fully functional kitchen. The structure is made entirely of wood. The walls of the internal volumes, as well as the entire façade perimeter, constitute the vertical structures constructed using the platform frame system. The transparency of the facades allows for the regular rhythm of the vertical supports to be visible from the outside. The setback of the facade, resulting from the rotation of the volumes, creates generous covered spaces that also contribute to the passive functioning of the building. Constructed with entirely recyclable materials, the project has a near-zero energy impact.

 

 

Social Impact

The new preschool is part of the school redevelopment project in Sforzacosta, stemming from a competition held in 2022. It’s a facet of an initiative led by the ABF Andrea Bocelli Foundation in collaboration with the Municipality of Macerata, aimed at addressing the shortage of educational spaces in the area. The project, comprising several phases, witnessed the completion of the preschool in 2023. The next phase involves the completion of the Educational Hub, which includes the renovation of primary school buildings and the gymnasium in 2024.

 

 

Horizontal gatherings

Located in Sharq, Kuwait, this project represents the idea of a multifunctional canopy, that simultaneously acts as an urban installation for the heart of the city center.

 

Building Program

The mixed-use building stands as a new landmark and a prominent place for gathering, hosting several communal events throughout the day, while at the same time, acting as a drive-in restaurant and outdoor esplanade. The roof is a playful contemplation area that features a playground and dining area with breathtaking views of the city, through series of carefully curated architectural elements such as stands and slides. In parallel, the space is also used as an outdoor theatre or cinema. Finally, the first floor includes an indoor restaurant and all the service areas.

 

 

Construction Philosophy

The most prominent element is a red spiral staircase that connects the three floors as well as all interior and exterior spaces. The construction philosophy is based on using raw, natural materials combined with intricate assembly techniques in order to create spaces as well as furniture that are both functional as well as optimally constructed.

Material Palette

The canopy-façade is made of a metallic mesh painted white, while the roof, floors and interior ceilings are painted in red, thus creating a horizontal contrast. In parallel, glossy ceramic tiles are used to clad specific parts of the interior walls. Finally, an array of strategically placed openings offers cross ventilation, natural light and accessibility to the overall space.

 

Design innovation

The construction of this undercut residence, nestled in the rugged landscape of Santorini, presented significant challenges. However, the project successfully overcame these obstacles, showcasing both architectural and structural excellence.

 

Exterior Shell

The design faced numerous challenges, including unsafe, underground tunnels, landslides, a deteriorated underground pocket and soil decay. Through meticulous geotechnical analysis and innovative design, the building exemplifies resilience and ingenuity. Central to the project’s success is its core materiality, where reinforced concrete is used to create a strong shell. The design ingeniously incorporates two retaining walls that support 600 cubic meters of infill, while a third arched wall, extending 6.5 meters inward, acts as a backbone, dividing the space into distinct sections. A dome unifies the ceilings across these sections.

 

Functional Organization

The façade is characterized by three semi-open spaces, each defining a distinct aspect of the building’s exterior. The first space features a flat, modern roof that leads to the swimming pool. The second space, with its vaulted design, reflects local traditions and marks the main entrance. The third space represents a contemporary architectural experiment: an acute-angled dome, known locally in Santorini as the “double-cube,” vertically intersects a semi-circular dome, creating a unique architectural element.

The residence’s interior features two en-suite bedrooms situated at the back, while the front area comprises the kitchen and living room. Given that underground spaces typically have a single source of light and ventilation, the design includes inverted arches as dividers -originally segments of the cross-vault intersection- serving as striking architectural elements as well as light conduits that enhance privacy and eliminate the need for conventional doors.

 

Light & Materiality

Artificial lighting is subtly integrated into the partitions to enhance the minimalist aesthetic, leaving the ceiling bare and uncluttered. As the sun sets, casting kaleidoscopic hues across the western sky, the interior of the house transforms. The walls take on delicate shades of pale pink, blue, and amethyst, as if imbued with the essence of twilight. Despite the challenges faced during its construction, this undercut house stands as a prime example of design innovation and perseverance, offering a stunning retreat that embraces the breathtaking views of Santorini.